One In Four Kindergartens Shun Minority Kids: EOC

One in four kindergartens in Hong Kong refuse or are reluctant to admit children from ethnic minorities, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) said on Wednesday.

The watchdog said its staff had posed as parents looking to find a place for their child at 180 kindergartens which take part in the government's Free Quality Kindergarten Education Scheme.

While a quarter tried to encourage the "parents" to go elsewhere or outright rejected their enquiries, a fifth also said that proficiency in Chinese was part of their selection criteria.

Speaking at an EOC press conference, a mother of Indian origin, surnamed Abeer, described how kindergartens attempted to put her off when she searched for a place for her daughter last year.

"Do you speak Cantonese? Who will help your child? What will happen when she comes to our school? She doesn't speak any Cantonese," the woman said she was asked by one kindergarten.

"I said 'I have a few friends who can help her with Cantonese'. But she still insisted why don't you send your daughter to the English school or [another] kindergarten."

Abeer said another kindergarten told her it was a Chinese school, pointing out that she is interested in her child learning Cantonese just like other students.