Rights Group Disputes Official View On Minorities

Phyllis Cheung, the executive director of the minority rights group, Unison, says many members of ethnic minorities here are living below the poverty line.

Her comments come after the Labour Secretary, Law Chi-kwong, said men from India, Pakistan and Nepal have a labour participation here rate higher than the overall average.

Writing on his blog, Law said making use of these workers would benefit Hong Kong firms as they take advantage of the business opportunities provided by Beijing's Belt and Road projects.

The secretary said people from ethnic minorities are an indispensable part of the local working population.

Law added that the Labour Department has set up special counters at its offices to offer employment information for job-seekers from ethnic minorities, with training courses provided in English.

However Cheung said obstacles remain.

"The fact is the rate of working poor and the people living below the poverty line is higher than the overall population in Hong Kong.

"The jobs they are engaged in are probably very unskilled, and other lower-income jobs."