Hong Kong’s efforts to foster inclusivity for Muslims while safeguarding social harmony are commendable and reflect the city’s commitment to diversity. However, the suggestion that extremism is a significant concern with regard to Hong Kong’s Muslim community lacks empirical support and risks perpetuating unnecessary stereotypes.

Hong Kong’s Muslim population, estimated at around 300,000, including both permanent residents and migrant workers, has historically been peaceful and law-abiding.

The government’s security reports do not identify the local Muslim community as a source of extremism. While vigilance against radicalisation is prudent worldwide, framing inclusivity efforts with undue caution may inadvertently stigmatise a minority that contributes positively to Hong Kong’s economy and culture.

The city’s expansion of halal dining is primarily driven by tourism and business needs, not religious imposition.

In 2024, Hong Kong welcomed 2.4 million visitors from Southeast Asia, many of whom are Muslim and who contributed significantly to the retail and hospitality sectors.

Similarly, Middle Eastern investment inflows have grown, with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia showing interest in Hong Kong’s status as a financial hub. These initiatives align with the government’s economic diversification strategy.

Hong Kong’s laws provide robust safeguards against radicalisation. Mosques and Islamic organisations in Hong Kong have consistently cooperated with the authorities, emphasising integration over isolation. For instance, the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong regularly engages in interfaith dialogues and community service, reinforcing social harmony.

Your correspondent rightly highlights Hong Kong’s tradition of religious freedom, but harmony is best maintained through trust, not pre-emptive suspicion. Singapore, with its larger Muslim community (15 per cent of the population), has successfully balanced inclusivity and security through community engagement, rather than alienation. Hong Kong can follow suit by promoting cultural exchange.

Hong Kong’s Muslim community is a model of peaceful coexistence. While safeguarding against extremism is a global priority, there is no evidence suggesting that halal food festivals or mosque activities threaten Hong Kong’s social fabric. The city’s focus should remain on fostering inclusivity, which benefits the economy, while relying on existing laws to address any rare security concerns. Let’s celebrate diversity without undue caution.

Ahmed Ashfaq, Tsim Sha Tsui

In the fast-paced food delivery industry, such a feature poses a significant safety hazard. Instead of automatically assigning orders, this mechanism has riders taking on orders on a first come, first served basis, so they must watch out for pop-up alerts on the app and react quickly. This leads to reckless competition, distracted riding and a higher risk of accidents. The system is flawed and urgently needs reform – or even a ban.

In an open letter last week, Keeta said nearly 90 per cent of orders were assigned to drivers, while only a small percentage of orders go out through the order-grabbing mechanism, which is intended to supplement drivers’ income.

I believe the most effective solution is to scrap this feature. Keeta should assign all orders automatically and adopt artificial intelligence-powered distribution to ensure fairness.

If Keeta refuses to abandon the order-grabbing mechanism, it must disable order acceptance when a rider is moving faster than 10km/h or in motion for more than three seconds. It should also penalise drivers for reckless riding and suspend those caught accepting orders while driving.

In response to the string of labour disputes and riders’ protests, the government has said it is working on a set of measures to improve protection for food delivery workers. It has even set up a liaison group comprising representatives from the government, operators and labour organisations to explore solutions.

I hope this puts pressure on Keeta to prioritise riders’ safety. Its order-grabbing system prioritises speed over safety, risking lives. Until it is banned, accidents will persist.

Ahmed Ashfaq, Tsim Sha Tsui

dated July 6, 2025, discusses the article “Tackle Discrimination Against Pakistanis at the roots” published June 23, 2025.

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3316948/more-work-needed-ensure-inclusive-hong-kong?

Abstract:

I refer to the letter, “Tackle discrimination against Pakistanis in Hong Kong at the roots” (July 23). The Hong Kong government has shown a commendable commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion through measures such as the Race Discrimination Ordinance.

In 2020, the government launched a three-year ethnic minority district ambassador pilot scheme in nine districts with larger ethnic minority populations. Last year, the government introduced eight care teams focused on ethnic minorities.

In 2020, the government launched a three-year ethnic minority district ambassador pilot scheme in nine districts with larger ethnic minority populations. Last year, the government introduced eight care teams focused on ethnic minorities.

However, as the letter highlights, structural barriers persist, particularly for the Pakistani community. I know people who share these concerns. Despite obtaining qualifications from reputable Hong Kong institutions and diligently applying for legal internships and positions, they often do not hear back from prospective employers. This suggests a gap exists between policy intentions and practical implementation, particularly with regard to job opportunities for ethnic minorities.

Some measures could strengthen the government’s existing efforts. First, promote inclusive hiring practices across the public and private sectors to help address unconscious bias. This could include promoting anonymised recruitment processes in early stages and establishing diversity benchmarks in fields where ethnic minority representation remains low. Perhaps the civil service could lead by example.

Second, enhance support for Chinese language acquisition. While programmes exist, expanding teacher training for Chinese as a second language and creating more opportunities for intercultural exchange in schools could help bridge the proficiency gap and promote social cohesion.

Third, keep developing more structured career pathways for ethnic minority youth through targeted internship and mentorship programmes to help translate educational qualifications into professional opportunities. Partnerships between corporations, academic institutions and community organisations could build valuable bridges.

Finally, raise community awareness through positive media representation and school curriculums to reflect Hong Kong’s multicultural reality and address stereotypes. Telling stories of ethnic minority contributions to Hong Kong’s development could inspire younger generations and change perceptions.

Ahmed Ashfaq, Tsim Sha Tsui

Takaful, or Islamic insurance, operates on principles of cooperation (Ta’awun) and charitable donation (Tabarru), with participants contributing to a shared pool to protect against risks. Unlike conventional insurance, Takaful avoids interest (Riba) and speculative uncertainty (Gharar), redistributing surpluses to participants. This ethical model covers family protection, general insurance and reinsurance solutions that comply with Islamic law.

Although challenges remain, Hong Kong’s regulatory framework has progressed in accommodating Islamic finance. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s framework allows Islamic banking windows, while tax neutrality for Islamic bonds (Sukuk) since 2013 has encouraged issuance. However, the lack of stand-alone Islamic banking licences and low local awareness limit growth potential.

Hong Kong should pursue strategic reform to capitalise on this market. Introducing a dedicated Takaful ordinance would provide clarity on capital and governance requirements. Partnerships with leading Islamic finance centres such as Malaysia and Qatar could accelerate product innovation, particularly fintech solutions. Establishing a Hong Kong-Qatar task force on Takaful would build on recent agreements, while an annual Islamic finance summit would raise Hong Kong’s profile.

With its multicultural environment and financial expertise, Hong Kong is well-placed to become an Islamic finance hub. In embracing this opportunity, Hong Kong can diversify its financial services sector while promoting ethical finance principles globally.

Ahmed Ashfaq, Tsim Sha Tsui

Reposted here with full credit to SCMP!

Hong Kong’s diversity is one of its greatest assets, with communities from South Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond contributing to the city’s vibrant culture.

The government centres catering to the city’s ethnic minorities provide services that help bridge gaps in education and employment, empowering individuals to participate more fully in society. Yet, as pointed out by your correspondent on August 5, their impact could be amplified by encouraging broader community participation.

Meaningful integration happens not just in structured programmes but in daily life. Districts with diverse populations, like Yau Tsim Mong and Central and Western, already see organic cross-cultural exchanges in markets, restaurants and places of worship. Supporting these informal connections can strengthen social cohesion.

Local councils and NGOs could organise community events that unite different groups, such as street fairs, cooking workshops or sports leagues. Public spaces like parks and libraries could also host multicultural storytelling sessions or art exhibitions, celebrating Hong Kong’s varied heritage. Small steps, like multilingual signage in key districts, would further signal that the city values all its residents.

Some systemic challenges remain, such as housing policies that may not accommodate larger families or workplace biases that limit opportunities. Addressing these issues thoughtfully, through flexible housing rules, anti-discrimination training for employers and scholarships for minority students, would help level the playing field.

Education also plays a crucial role. Schools that teach cultural awareness and Hong Kong’s diverse history can nurture empathy from a young age. Encouraging volunteer programmes where students from different backgrounds collaborate on projects would further build friendships and mutual respect.

Integration is not about erasing differences but creating a society where everyone feels valued. Community centres, grass-roots initiatives and thoughtful policies can all contribute, but the most powerful change comes from individuals. Hong Kong will grow stronger when residents take the initiative to learn about their neighbours, support minority-owned businesses and engage in open dialogue.

Ahmed Ashfaq, Tsim Sha Tsui

My response to “Hong Kong should balance dog-friendly trends with cultural concerns”. While hygiene and food safety matter, halal-friendliness is about inclusion, not conformity

🕌 Respecting halal-certified venues is essential

🐶 Pet-friendly spaces reflect modern inclusivity

🏙️ Zoning allows both to thrive, without exclusion

Your recent letter on permitting dogs in restaurants raises valid concerns about hygiene and food safety, which are well-supported by existing regulations and public health standards (“Hong Kong should balance dog-friendly trends with cultural concerns”, November 1). These are important considerations, especially in enclosed dining environments, and should remain central to any policy changes.

However, the letter’s framing around Islamic cultural sensitivities invites further reflection. It is reasonable to highlight that halal-certified venues must uphold ritual purity to maintain consumer trust. This is a legitimate concern for Muslim diners and certification bodies, and it should be respected within any licensing framework. Yet it is equally important to distinguish between protecting halal-certified spaces and suggesting that broader public policy should reflect specific religious teachings.

Hong Kong is a secular and pluralistic society. Its aspiration to be a halal-friendly destination is commendable, but this means offering respectful options, such as halal-certified restaurants, prayer facilities and informed service, not reshaping the entire hospitality sector around one set of religious norms. Halal-friendliness is about inclusion and accommodation, not conformity.

A more constructive approach would be to ensure zoning and certification clarity. Protecting halal-certified venues as pet-free zones is both practical and respectful, without imposing blanket restrictions on other establishments. This allows pet-friendly and halal-certified spaces to coexist, reflecting Hong Kong’s inclusive and cosmopolitan character.

The government’s proposal to introduce a licensing system for designated pet-friendly restaurants is not inherently incompatible with halal-friendly goals. With clear guidelines and transparent certification, both objectives can be met. Such a framework would support consumer choice, uphold religious sensitivities and accommodate evolving social norms.

In summary, though respecting religious sensitivities is essential, maintaining policy neutrality in a diverse society is equally important. A zoning-based approach that protects specific venues while allowing flexibility elsewhere is a fair and inclusive solution. This will support Hong Kong’s promising journey towards becoming a halal-friendly destination, one that accommodates without imposing and welcomes without exclusion.

Ahmed Ashfaq, Tsim Sha Tsui

My submission, “Deadly Blaze Has United a Community in Grief and Action”, in relation to the recent fire in Tai Po has shaken Hong Kong, leaving families devastated and a community in mourning.”

Full Text

Deadly blaze has united a community in grief and action

The tragic fire in Tai Po has left our community in a state of profound grief. My deepest condolences, and those of so many across Hong Kong, are with the victims and the families who have lost their loved ones. As a solicitor, I wish to offer my support and to provide any legal or other assistance I can to those affected by this devastating incident.

In the face of such sorrow, one thing has been truly inspiring: how this tragedy has brought people together. We have witnessed an outstanding outpouring of compassion, with individuals from all walks of life coming forth to offer help in whatever capacity they could. It is particularly heartening to see the visible and active role played by our ethnic minority communities in this collective aid effort. This solidarity showcases the very best of our city's spirit, reminding us that our shared humanity transcends all backgrounds.

To ensure such a catastrophe is avoided in the future, we must learn from this event and seek out every possible avenue for improvement.

Mainland China has made remarkable advancements in firefighting technology, particularly in the development of sophisticated firefighting drones capable of tackling blazes in high-rise structures. Could such advanced drone technology be shared with our Fire Services Department? Integrating such innovative tools could enhance our emergency response capabilities, potentially saving countless lives in the future.

Ahmed Ashfaq, Tsim Sha Tsui

In my extensive volunteer work as a lawyer with vulnerable families across our city, I have listened to heartbreaking accounts of hardship, crowded housing, inaccessible healthcare and the desperate search for dignified work.

While their struggles are complex, I have arrived at a firm and personal conviction: the most critical barrier they face is not primarily systemic, but linguistic. And with that conviction comes a message of hope and agency.

I believe, with every fibre of my being, that mastering Cantonese is the single most transformative act of empowerment available to them. It is the master key. Every other challenge - deciphering a housing form, advocating at a clinic, understanding a job description or filing a complaint - becomes surmountable once one can communicate.

I hear calls for better systemic support, and while that has its place, I see a far more immediate and decisive path: an individual or a family deciding to overcome the language barrier on their own.

This is not merely about catching up, but about gaining a superior edge. Consider the prospect: a person who masters fluent Cantonese, retains full command of their native language and speaks functional English possesses a trilingual skill set that could exceed many local peers.

In our global yet locally rooted job market, this is not just an asset; it is a formidable competitive advantage. I have seen it elevate individuals from marginalised jobseekers to sought-after candidates. This linguistic prowess, when paired with even modest vocational training or a strong work ethic, creates a profile of exceptional value and resilience.

Therefore, I place the primary responsibility for this transformation squarely on the individual and the family unit. It requires a conscious, relentless and daily choice to prioritise learning. It means parents leading by example, turning the home into a classroom and relentlessly practising in shops, clinics and parks. It is hard daily work, but I have witnessed its transformative power.

The Hong Kong spirit has always been about rewarding the proactive, the adaptable and the resilient. The city offers a platform to those who seize the initiative. I urge every resident or newcomer who is struggling to find a footing to invest in the language. Do not wait for a system to perfect itself. Your power to break the cycle and rise lies in your own discipline, your own voice and the words you choose to learn today. Your future here will be built upon them.

Ahmed Ashfaq, Tsim Sha Tsui

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3340963/vulnerable-families-hong-kong-simply-must-master-cantonese?

Full submission available at SCMP via the link below:

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3346332/families-need-not-feel-targeted-child-safeguarding-process?

Abstract:

The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance, which came into effect in January, has sparked significant public discussion. However, much of this dialogue is underpinned by a persistent fear: that a child protection report automatically equates to blame or punishment. This misunderstanding may often cause unnecessary anxiety, making an already stressful situation far harder than it needs to be.

In reality, a report is not a judgement or a finding of guilt. It triggers a structured safeguarding process designed to assess a child’s welfare. While social workers focus on immediate care needs, police involvement, where it occurs, follows established procedures to determine whether a criminal offence may have occurred. This dual approach is standard practice, designed to protect the child rather than accuse the family.

In early stages, families may be contacted by social workers or police for basic information or medical checks. While these steps are often perceived as accusatory, they are routine, legally required information-gathering measures. Even when there is a clear explanation, professionals have to document their assessments before a case can be closed.

Another source of confusion involves interviews with domestic helpers or grandparents. This is not a sign of unfair targeting; safeguarding assessments must focus on whoever supervises the child on a day-to-day basis, regardless of household hierarchy.

Experience suggests that what helps families most is calm, factual communication and cooperation with medical follow-ups. Conversely, attempts to identify the person who made the report or to ask schools to handle matters privately often exacerbate the situation. Professionals are required to follow these procedures and are legally protected when they report in good faith.

A system designed to safeguard children functions best when the public understands its true purpose. Greater clarity on how these assessments work would reduce unnecessary conflict and ensure that the focus remains where it belongs: on the safety and well-being of the child.

Ahmed Ashfaq, Tsim Sha Tsui

In many areas of public and professional life, legitimacy has never depended on who produced the first draft or what tools were used to generate it. Drafting has always been collaborative and assisted by tools, templates and prior material. What gives a document, decision or statement its authority is the moment it is reviewed, adopted and treated as definitive by someone who bears responsibility for it.

Artificial intelligence does not alter this structure. It simply makes the production of content faster and cheaper. As a result, output alone can no longer serve as a reliable signal of care, understanding or sound judgment. That does not make AI‑assisted content inherently suspect. It means that responsibility must be located elsewhere, precisely where it has always belonged.

What matters is whether someone has checked the content against reliable sources, confirmed its accuracy, understood its implications and is willing to stand behind it if it proves wrong. If that step is taken, the method of creation becomes irrelevant. If it is not taken, the problem is not the technology, but a failure of due diligence and responsibility.

This distinction is important because debates about AI often drift towards questions of authorship or purity of process. Those concerns miss the real issue. Credibility does not rest on who typed the words, how long it took or whether a tool was involved. It rests on adoption, verification and accountability.

Indeed, as the volume of generated content grows, these qualities become more valuable, not less. When information can be produced instantly and distributed widely, the risk of error, distortion and overconfidence increases. Trust, therefore, flows to individuals and institutions that can demonstrate rigorous standards, transparent review processes and clear ownership of outcomes.

Technology may assist the process, but credibility still depends on human responsibility. That principle has not changed, and it is the one worth defending as AI continues to evolve.

Ahmed Ashfaq, Tsim Sha Tsui