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Much of the history discussed in the previous chapter is tied to the British colonial regime. It is therefore important to bring this story up to date and to chart the significant transformations that have occurred within Hong Kong’s Islamic community in the post-colonial era, not least because these new developments are representative of the zeitgeist in which this book has been written. What follows is a discussion of some events significant to Muslims since the handover of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China. The date of 1997 is used solely for practical purposes providing a very contemporary overview. It is not intended to suggest that the date was a catalyst for a different era for Muslims in Hong Kong, although Ho (2001, 2002) has argued that the affairs of Muslims and the importance of the Islamic community has seen a notable decline since 1997. This is because the fortunes of this community were in part tied to the colonial government. Many Muslims held positions at various levels in the civil service, roles that have since altered and in some cases vanished. But it is also fair to argue that these were a minority of individuals who were already due to retire from many of these posts. It is not fair to suggest that Muslims have not done well since 1997. At present, more Muslims than ever before profit from earning a living in the territory. Government statistics for 2009 report the Muslim population of Hong Kong at its highest ever figure, with over 220,000 Muslims residing in the territory (Hong Kong Yearbook 2009b). However, the profiles of the community have altered considerably. In contrast to their previous occupations as prison guards and police officers, many Pakistani men now work as security guards at offices and residential complexes, as delivery goods truck drivers, or road construction workers. Similarly, the largest proportion of Muslims now living and working in Hong Kong are Indonesian foreign domestic workers, employed as maids, childminders, and cleaners. There are also a number of South Asian Muslims who work 3 Transformations 36 Islam in Hong Kong illegally in Chungking Mansions, and increasing numbers of Muslims are asylum seekers. However, these are a minority of the broader Muslim population. There are five different developments which have had a significant effect on the Islamic community since 1997, and which highlight their transformations. These are (in chronological order) the immediate political and governmental changes post-1997, 9/11, the SARS pandemic, the Danish cartoon row, and anti-racism legislation. These various events and issues are not representative of the most urgent and important concerns of the Islamic community, but they do provide a measure by which change can be observed and understood. The final parts of this chapter look at Hong Kong’s new anti-racism law, and also the rise in numbers of Indonesian foreign domestic workers, and their connection to the SARS crisis. The stories of these Indonesians are new to Hong Kong and also quite different from many other accounts in this book. End of the colony As Hong Kong was returned to China on 1 July 1997 the world watched in anticipation of what might occur. The evening of the handover was quite unremarkable besides the drizzly weather. The event is perhaps best understood as a formal recognition of change rather than the political and social changes that pre-empted and followed that very date. For the various Muslim groups that lived in Hong Kong at that time, 1997 posed the question of belonging. Where was their home going to be? Were they, for instance, Indian, British, or Hong Kong belongers? Many South Asians were awarded British National Overseas (BNO) status but this is not transferable to their children. Those that became BNO before turning 18 years of age found that the status expired when they became adult. Many young South Asians continue to have issues with passports and residency in Britain. Some Muslims in the territory found that with the transfer of Hong Kong’s sovereignty they effectively became stateless. One way in which this has been remedied is through Chinese national naturalisation enabling locally-born ethnic minorities to have a recognised state and preserve their right of abode in Hong Kong. The first successful case of Chinese naturalisation by a Hong Kong South Asian occurred in 2002. Since this time applications from South Asians for Chinese naturalisation exceed 500 annually. [3.138.33.178] Project MUSE (2024-04...

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