Media and discriminatory experience : lives of South Asian minorities in Hong Kong

Abstract

South Asians have deep historical roots in Hong Kong. They constitute an integral part of Hong Kong society. Nonetheless, racial discrimination towards South Asians appears to be both widespread and significant in Hong Kong. Failure to deal effectively with racial discrimination can result in its escalation and evoke more serious social problems such as social conflict. One of the broad aims of this research is to better understand the current situation faced by South Asian minorities in Hong Kong. Another aim is to examine the role of Hong Kong media in exacerbating and/or ameliorating racial discrimination since media is critical to our lives both as a source of information and in shaping our views of social issues. Previous research conducted in other societies suggests that media may have a significant influence on the nature and extent of racial discrimination. Yet evidence in support of this view is limited, and this is especially so in the case of Hong Kong. The present study is intended to fill these gaps by focusing on the nature of racial discrimination and mistreatment experienced by South Asians minorities in Hong Kong and the relationship between local media and their discriminatory experiences. For this purpose, we proposed a study framework based on the concepts of the sociological imagination and the societal reaction to guide the present research. We adopted a mixed research design. We conducted a content analysis of articles about South Asians in two local newspapers, “Apple Daily” and “Ming Pao”, for the years 2004 and 2016 in order to find out what changes, if any, have occurred in the number and type of references to South Asians. We also conducted eight in-depth interviews, four with South Asians and four with social workers.