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Caught Between Hong Kong's Two Systems Caught Between Hong Kong’s Two Systems
(about 17 hours later)
HONG KONG — Talwinder Singh considers himself a “Hong Kong citizen” and a native son of the city where he was born. Though he is an Indian passport holder, he has been to India only once.HONG KONG — Talwinder Singh considers himself a “Hong Kong citizen” and a native son of the city where he was born. Though he is an Indian passport holder, he has been to India only once.
But, unlike most Hong Kongers, he goes to what is called a “designated school,” in which 95 percent of students are, like himself, from ethnic minorities, mostly with South Asian or Southeast Asian backgrounds.But, unlike most Hong Kongers, he goes to what is called a “designated school,” in which 95 percent of students are, like himself, from ethnic minorities, mostly with South Asian or Southeast Asian backgrounds.
He had mixed feelings about the system, introduced in 2006 to provide a separate space for non-Chinese minorities.He had mixed feelings about the system, introduced in 2006 to provide a separate space for non-Chinese minorities.
“I’m glad I am studying at a designated school,” he said. “I know I will feel alone, and uncomfortable, if I studied in a mainstream school.”“I’m glad I am studying at a designated school,” he said. “I know I will feel alone, and uncomfortable, if I studied in a mainstream school.”
The 17-year-old cited the fact that his school teaches in English, one of the two languages he speaks at home, along with Punjabi. Most public schools in Hong Kong teach in Chinese, with little support for students who grow up speaking English at home, much less Hindi, Urdu or Nepalese.The 17-year-old cited the fact that his school teaches in English, one of the two languages he speaks at home, along with Punjabi. Most public schools in Hong Kong teach in Chinese, with little support for students who grow up speaking English at home, much less Hindi, Urdu or Nepalese.
“The teachers are also experienced and they know how to handle minority students,” Mr. Singh added.“The teachers are also experienced and they know how to handle minority students,” Mr. Singh added.
Still, he regrets not having the chance to improve his Chinese and integrate more fully into Hong Kong society. “I like learning Chinese,” he said. “It’s quite useful, and in Hong Kong, it can be quite embarrassing if you can’t converse in it.”Still, he regrets not having the chance to improve his Chinese and integrate more fully into Hong Kong society. “I like learning Chinese,” he said. “It’s quite useful, and in Hong Kong, it can be quite embarrassing if you can’t converse in it.”
“In the long run, I still feel that the government shouldn’t separate both local Chinese and ethnic minorities. They should all be under one school system,” he said. “But at the same time, adequate support should be given to those who need it.”“In the long run, I still feel that the government shouldn’t separate both local Chinese and ethnic minorities. They should all be under one school system,” he said. “But at the same time, adequate support should be given to those who need it.”
Mr. Singh, who will graduate this summer, is considering universities in Hong Kong and abroad. “Even if I go overseas to further my studies, I will still come back,” he said. “My family is here. I have lived here for all my life and I belong here. Even though, at times, we face discrimination, which is something we can’t avoid, most locals are still nice to us.”Mr. Singh, who will graduate this summer, is considering universities in Hong Kong and abroad. “Even if I go overseas to further my studies, I will still come back,” he said. “My family is here. I have lived here for all my life and I belong here. Even though, at times, we face discrimination, which is something we can’t avoid, most locals are still nice to us.”
Hong Kong, a former British colony, has struggled with how to deal with its ethnic minorities, among whom some people have roots in the city that reach back a century. After the handover to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, those seeking Hong Kong passports had to abide by China’s Nationality Law, in which race or ethnicity was taken into account when determining who is a Chinese national. While some Hong Kong-born minorities were approved for passports, others were not. High-profile rejections led to legal challenges and front-page headlines. One applicant, born in Hong Kong and raised by adoptive Hong Kong parents, was initially rejected because her birth mother was not ethnically Chinese.Hong Kong, a former British colony, has struggled with how to deal with its ethnic minorities, among whom some people have roots in the city that reach back a century. After the handover to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, those seeking Hong Kong passports had to abide by China’s Nationality Law, in which race or ethnicity was taken into account when determining who is a Chinese national. While some Hong Kong-born minorities were approved for passports, others were not. High-profile rejections led to legal challenges and front-page headlines. One applicant, born in Hong Kong and raised by adoptive Hong Kong parents, was initially rejected because her birth mother was not ethnically Chinese.
There are now 30,000 ethnic minority students in Hong Kong, from kindergarten to university level. Of the 15,000 enrolled in primary or secondary schools, more than half are at designated schools, the numbers of which have more than doubled from 15 to 31, according to the city’s Education Bureau.There are now 30,000 ethnic minority students in Hong Kong, from kindergarten to university level. Of the 15,000 enrolled in primary or secondary schools, more than half are at designated schools, the numbers of which have more than doubled from 15 to 31, according to the city’s Education Bureau.
The designated schools were meant to help those who fell into the gap between ethnic Chinese — who make up 94 percent of the population — and the mostly Western expatriates who can afford English-language internationals schools.The designated schools were meant to help those who fell into the gap between ethnic Chinese — who make up 94 percent of the population — and the mostly Western expatriates who can afford English-language internationals schools.
It was also after the handover that Hong Kong implemented its “mother-tongue teaching policy,” in which more than 300 secondary schools switched from English to Chinese.It was also after the handover that Hong Kong implemented its “mother-tongue teaching policy,” in which more than 300 secondary schools switched from English to Chinese.
Of the remaining 114 secondary schools allowed to continue teaching in English, most were expensive private schools, or elite public schools that are extremely difficult to enter. The spots for minority children were drastically reduced.Of the remaining 114 secondary schools allowed to continue teaching in English, most were expensive private schools, or elite public schools that are extremely difficult to enter. The spots for minority children were drastically reduced.
“The move was too sudden. The teachers were not well-equipped to teach these minority children,” said Tahir Nadeem Khan, an English teacher and head of community relations at the Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College, a designated school. “Many minority students suffered from the policy change.”“The move was too sudden. The teachers were not well-equipped to teach these minority children,” said Tahir Nadeem Khan, an English teacher and head of community relations at the Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College, a designated school. “Many minority students suffered from the policy change.”
“It is racial segregation,” said Fermi Wong, executive director of Hong Kong Unison, a nongovernmental organization that helps minority groups. “Students study in narrow social circles, and they are largely disconnected from the society.”“It is racial segregation,” said Fermi Wong, executive director of Hong Kong Unison, a nongovernmental organization that helps minority groups. “Students study in narrow social circles, and they are largely disconnected from the society.”
“Because of the poor quality of education in these schools, they end up not being able to read and write Chinese,” she said. “Their inability to learn the language affects their education opportunities and, subsequently, their employment.”“Because of the poor quality of education in these schools, they end up not being able to read and write Chinese,” she said. “Their inability to learn the language affects their education opportunities and, subsequently, their employment.”
“The reality for many of these ethnic minority children is that they come from low-income families, and they cannot afford to go to the international schools,” said Lam Woon-kwong, chairman of the Hong Kong Equal Opportunities Commission and a former head of the Education Bureau.“The reality for many of these ethnic minority children is that they come from low-income families, and they cannot afford to go to the international schools,” said Lam Woon-kwong, chairman of the Hong Kong Equal Opportunities Commission and a former head of the Education Bureau.
Hong Kong students leaving the sixth grade have to apply to get into secondary school the next year. The system is based on exam scores, including one on Chinese language ability.Hong Kong students leaving the sixth grade have to apply to get into secondary school the next year. The system is based on exam scores, including one on Chinese language ability.
“The competition is keen because local Chinese parents desperately want their kids to get into elite schools to study English, too,” said Mr. Lam, who added that very few minority students made the cut. “It is easy to say minority students are lazy. But they are not slow learners. Many of these students are very talented. Yet no matter how good they are at English and mathematics, they often perform poorly at the primary level due to the Chinese requirement.”“The competition is keen because local Chinese parents desperately want their kids to get into elite schools to study English, too,” said Mr. Lam, who added that very few minority students made the cut. “It is easy to say minority students are lazy. But they are not slow learners. Many of these students are very talented. Yet no matter how good they are at English and mathematics, they often perform poorly at the primary level due to the Chinese requirement.”
In an ironic twist, ethnic minority students with poor Chinese test scores would not get into the elite schools that teach in their native English, meaning that they ended up back at the Chinese-language schools that failed them in the first place.In an ironic twist, ethnic minority students with poor Chinese test scores would not get into the elite schools that teach in their native English, meaning that they ended up back at the Chinese-language schools that failed them in the first place.
It was because of that problem that the designated schools were created. But while they have helped younger students like Mr. Singh, those who grew up around the time of the handover were left out.It was because of that problem that the designated schools were created. But while they have helped younger students like Mr. Singh, those who grew up around the time of the handover were left out.
Arif Abbas’s family moved from Pakistan to Hong Kong in 1989, when he was 5 years old. His father worked 12-hour shifts as a security guard to put him and his six siblings through school.Arif Abbas’s family moved from Pakistan to Hong Kong in 1989, when he was 5 years old. His father worked 12-hour shifts as a security guard to put him and his six siblings through school.
“My parents always believed that we could benefit from the education here,” said Mr. Abbas, 29.“My parents always believed that we could benefit from the education here,” said Mr. Abbas, 29.
“Just after the British handover, many schools did not accept ethnic minorities because we could not read and write Chinese,” said Mr. Abbas, who grew up speaking Urdu and English. “But how could we understand Chinese when we were not even given a chance to learn?”“Just after the British handover, many schools did not accept ethnic minorities because we could not read and write Chinese,” said Mr. Abbas, who grew up speaking Urdu and English. “But how could we understand Chinese when we were not even given a chance to learn?”
He ended up at what was called an English-language school, though he said his teachers used Chinese most of the time. He tried to acquire a higher diploma — the equivalent of an associate’s degree — but found it hard to work around language requirements. After bouncing around various programs for a decade — and being rejected by six local institutions — he is now expected to graduate from a higher diploma program in social work next year.He ended up at what was called an English-language school, though he said his teachers used Chinese most of the time. He tried to acquire a higher diploma — the equivalent of an associate’s degree — but found it hard to work around language requirements. After bouncing around various programs for a decade — and being rejected by six local institutions — he is now expected to graduate from a higher diploma program in social work next year.
“Education itself is not difficult,” he said. “The only difficulty is that ethnic minorities like us are not given enough opportunities.”“Education itself is not difficult,” he said. “The only difficulty is that ethnic minorities like us are not given enough opportunities.”
Hong Kong’s chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, pledged in January to do more for minority groups, particularly in terms of Chinese-language education.Hong Kong’s chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, pledged in January to do more for minority groups, particularly in terms of Chinese-language education.
But lobbying groups, like Hong Kong Unison, have long argued that a better solution would be to allow more schools to use an alternative curriculum — with English as the first language, and Chinese as the second — and reduce the number of schools in which minority children are separated out.But lobbying groups, like Hong Kong Unison, have long argued that a better solution would be to allow more schools to use an alternative curriculum — with English as the first language, and Chinese as the second — and reduce the number of schools in which minority children are separated out.
“The government needs to stop the expansion of designated schools and get these students back into mainstream schools, with the condition that these schools receive effective support,” Ms. Wong said.“The government needs to stop the expansion of designated schools and get these students back into mainstream schools, with the condition that these schools receive effective support,” Ms. Wong said.
The Education Bureau said in an email that it had no plans to change the current curriculum but that it would “review the support measures to enhance the learning of non-Chinese students.”The Education Bureau said in an email that it had no plans to change the current curriculum but that it would “review the support measures to enhance the learning of non-Chinese students.”
According to the Equal Opportunities Commission, fewer than 1 percent of local Hong Kong undergraduates are from ethnic minorities. Records from the Education Bureau show that only 50 non-Chinese local students received offers from Hong Kong universities last year.According to the Equal Opportunities Commission, fewer than 1 percent of local Hong Kong undergraduates are from ethnic minorities. Records from the Education Bureau show that only 50 non-Chinese local students received offers from Hong Kong universities last year.
“Hong Kong is my home,” said Club Thapa, whose Nepalese grandfather served in the British Army in Hong Kong. “Yet, even though I have been studying more than my family and working so hard compared to the local Chinese students, I am afraid I cannot find a job that is better than the past generation.”“Hong Kong is my home,” said Club Thapa, whose Nepalese grandfather served in the British Army in Hong Kong. “Yet, even though I have been studying more than my family and working so hard compared to the local Chinese students, I am afraid I cannot find a job that is better than the past generation.”
“It is sad because Hong Kong is losing a lot of talented people because of the current education policy,” added the 23-year-old, who is currently applying to universities. “And these are the children of Hong Kong, the children whose fathers and grandfathers built and protected this city.”“It is sad because Hong Kong is losing a lot of talented people because of the current education policy,” added the 23-year-old, who is currently applying to universities. “And these are the children of Hong Kong, the children whose fathers and grandfathers built and protected this city.”