Hong Kong Island election hopefuls vow to fight for ethnic minority groups

Legislative Council election candidates competing for Hong Kong Island seats have vowed to fight for more job opportunities for ethnic minority communities and ensure their voices are heard.

The contenders made the promise on Saturday at the first of the day’s government-run forums for the Hong Kong Island West and East constituencies, held for the first time at Hong Kong Park’s Olympic Square.

But organisers put up curtains at the venue’s entrance, preventing anyone without tickets from watching the debates, while several police officers patrolled outside.

The morning session hosted the five candidates for Hong Kong Island West, a two-seat constituency that has the highest ethnic minority population, with the contenders asked to outline their plans to support the area’s non-Chinese community.

Incumbent lawmaker Chan Hok-fung of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong said that people from ethnic minority backgrounds wanted their cultures and religions to be respected, in addition to more support in the workplace and daily life.

“Some of them told me: ‘We actually understand Cantonese, and we can read some Chinese too. There are some misunderstandings about us.’ What they really need is equal opportunity,” he added.