Hong Kong is a metropolis with diverse information flooding in from computers, TV and smartphones round the clock. However, some sectors of the community are being isolated due to lack of information. The following story tells how the Non-ethnic Chinese (NEC) sector started working closely with the police.
A puzzling day
One day last summer, tropical cyclone signal number 8 was hoisted as Hong Kong braced for a typhoon with heavy rains. While most people stayed indoors for safety, a group of Pakistanis gathered outside a building in an empty street, waiting for offers of job.
Having found out what they were waiting for, Senior Inspector (SIP) Rajindarpal Pannu, the officer-in-charge of the Police Non-ethnic Chinese Liaison Unit of Kwai Tsing District, advised the Pakistanis to return home because normally jobs would not be available during a typhoon. To SIP Pannu's surprise, the Pakistanis had no idea of the typhoon threat, nor did they know why the street was empty.
An isolated group
Kwai Tsing is one of the districts where NEC groups take up home. Each group has its own language, culture, history and lifestyle. They have become an independent community and seldom get in touch with other community groups or the locals. Most of them only watch television programmes of their own countries. As a result, they are "ignorant" of the things around them and know nothing about the information or news in Hong Kong, neither the tropical cyclone warning system nor the "Scheme $6,000" Government operated in 2012.
NEC Special Team
In 2011, Kwai Tsing District set up a Non-ethnic Chinese Special Team in a bid to help NEC integrate with society. The team reaches out to the NEC to enlist their co-operation and support for combatting crimes in Kwai Tsing District. But, owing to lack of understanding, the NEC were reluctant to communicate with the police and repeatedly rejected the team. Nevertheless, this did not deter the team from accomplishing its mission.
The first step the team took was to ensure that the NEC know what are happening around them. So the team put up government leaflets at the places the NEC live. As the leaflets were printed in their own languages, the NEC were able to get updated information. Gradually, they began accepting the team. A 24-hour hotline was also set up to address their needs and provide timely assistance. With these services, the team gained a better understanding of the NEC, and both parties worked more closely in fighting crime.
Mutual trust and co-operation
Last year, the team put in a great deal of effort in garnering NEC trust. The efforts gained their appreciation and support.
(The article is contributed by SIP Pannu)
