Ethnic minorities have been living in Hong Kong for ages and recognized as part of the society, some of them have played important social and economic roles. More recently, top talents from all around the world come to pursue their careers in Hong Kong under the Government’s talents and professionals admission schemes. In spite of their long history, crucial roles and talented skills, members of the ethnic minorities have been rejected in application for neutralization as Chinese citizens.
Because of the ethnicity-based nationality law of China, only Hong Kong residents of Chinese descent meet the conditions for neutralization. So, even skilled talent like Professor Kumta, who is the assistant dean of the Chinese University’s Faculty of Medicine, has been failing to obtain Chinese citizenship. It has caused problems in travelling overseas and working in the Mainland, and most importantly, posed controversy on the issue of egalitarianism.
Non-Chinese population only accounts for about 6.4% of the whole population in Hong Kong, but the nationality problem is critically important. There should not be the “tyranny of the majority” if we regarded Hong Kong as a civilized society. Neutralization is not just a problem that concerns the ethnic minorities, but it is about whether all the members of our society have equal rights. It is not only a social problem, but a challenge to the core values of Hong Kong. For the sake of protecting minority rights, it is time for the authority to review its current practice on neutralization.