Letters | Hong Kong could do more to match global momentum during Ramadan

Readers discuss the city’s efforts to become Muslim-friendly, Cathay Pacific’s business class seats, and the proposal to legalise basketball betting

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Mufti Muhammad Arshad, chief imam of Hong Kong, at a Ramadan iftar dinner at The Mira hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui on March 4. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 11:30am, 11 Mar 2025Updated: 2:22pm, 12 Mar 2025

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This Ramadan is particularly special, as it began on March 1, an alignment with the start of the Gregorian month that only happens roughly every 33 years. Because the official start depends on the sighting of the crescent moon, variations are to be expected across regions. In Hong Kong, for example, many Muslims began their fast on March 2.

In recent years, Hong Kong has made notable strides towards becoming more Muslim-friendly. The city has introduced an accreditation system for hotels and key tourist attractions, complementing existing halal certification for restaurants. One milestone was the first halal certification awarded to a Hong Kong fine-dining Chinese restaurant.

Meanwhile, Ocean Park, Disneyland and Ngong Ping 360 now offer halal dining options and prayer facilities. The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre was awarded a gold certification for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) venues by CrescentRating last December. In addition, an increasing number of hotels offer halal meals, prayer mats, Qibla indicators and washrooms designed for ablution.

However, my recent experience in Tsim Sha Tsui highlighted a significant oversight: the Qibla indicator in one hotel’s bedside drawer was not accurately pointing towards the Kaaba. For devout Muslims, such inaccuracies may result in misdirected prayers and spiritual disquiet.

Clear signage and dedicated prayer rooms in hotels and shopping centre lobbies could indicate enhanced service and respect. Qibla indicators should be placed in visible areas, rather than tucked away in a drawer.