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Nepalis in Hong Kong
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Nepalis in Hong Kong
There is a moderately medium sized ethnic minority population of Nepalese people in Hong Kong (referred to as 'Hong Kong Nepalese'), forming roughly 4% of the total ethnic minorities population (approximately 29000 (According to census of 2016 - total 18094, but many others have already received British and Chinese citizenship which counts approximately around 10000)). They primarily came to this territory as part of the Gurkha brigade of the British Army in 1960s. After the handover in 1997, their (Gurkha Soldiers') siblings were granted rights of abode in Hong Kong. Hence, the majority of the Nepali population of Hong Kong are the children and grandchildren of Gurkha soldiers.
Nepalese are not totally invisible in society; they are visible in media discourse as well as the government policies. Also, they are relatively organized, having established their own NGOs to fight for their rights. The Nepalese are one of the fastest-growing ethnic minorities in Hong Kong.
Nepalese people began arriving in Hong Kong under British colonial rule in the 1960s as part of the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas. They continued in this employment until 1997. Their primary duties were to deter illegal immigrants and protect local residents. Most of them lived in Whitfield Barracks and Shek Kong Barracks.
After 30 June 1997, the British Government withdrew from Hong Kong, and the Gurkha brigade disbanded. These Gurkhas and their children had the right to reside in Hong Kong. Also in 2008, a law of the UK was passed which claimed that those Gurkhas retired before 1997 would be eligible to live in United Kingdom as citizens.
Nepalese who choose to stay in Hong Kong want to take root there, especially if their children were born there. They have Hong Kong Identity Cards, but their nationality is still Nepalese. Without Chinese nationality, they are ineligible to apply for an SAR passport or a ‘home return permit’ . However, since July 2024, they have been able to apply for and receive the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Resident (Non-Chinese Citizens).
There are over 40 NGOs organized by Nepalese in Hong Kong, and these social organizations have government licenses. The Southern League Organization and Hong Kong Nepalese Federation Some of the NGOs are formed by different lineages; they provide services and share relevant news happening in Hong Kong or Nepal to different lineages, such as the lineage of Limbu, Rai, Gurung, Magar, etc.
More than 80% of Nepalese are employed in elementary occupations.
The Nepalese in Hong Kong mainly live in the Yau Tsim Mong area (33.2% of Hong Kong's Nepali population, and 2.4% of the district's population being Nepali) and the Yuen Long area (33.9%; 0.8%). As Kowloon Park was a main military camp for the brigade from Nepal, as well as Shek Kong in Yuen Long, they chose to live nearby after they left the camp. Some of them live in Wan Chai where they first arrived; in fact, their communities have spread out to more districts nowadays.
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Nepalis in Hong Kong
There is a moderately medium sized ethnic minority population of Nepalese people in Hong Kong (referred to as 'Hong Kong Nepalese'), forming roughly 4% of the total ethnic minorities population (approximately 29000 (According to census of 2016 - total 18094, but many others have already received British and Chinese citizenship which counts approximately around 10000)). They primarily came to this territory as part of the Gurkha brigade of the British Army in 1960s. After the handover in 1997, their (Gurkha Soldiers') siblings were granted rights of abode in Hong Kong. Hence, the majority of the Nepali population of Hong Kong are the children and grandchildren of Gurkha soldiers.
Nepalese are not totally invisible in society; they are visible in media discourse as well as the government policies. Also, they are relatively organized, having established their own NGOs to fight for their rights. The Nepalese are one of the fastest-growing ethnic minorities in Hong Kong.
Nepalese people began arriving in Hong Kong under British colonial rule in the 1960s as part of the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas. They continued in this employment until 1997. Their primary duties were to deter illegal immigrants and protect local residents. Most of them lived in Whitfield Barracks and Shek Kong Barracks.
After 30 June 1997, the British Government withdrew from Hong Kong, and the Gurkha brigade disbanded. These Gurkhas and their children had the right to reside in Hong Kong. Also in 2008, a law of the UK was passed which claimed that those Gurkhas retired before 1997 would be eligible to live in United Kingdom as citizens.
Nepalese who choose to stay in Hong Kong want to take root there, especially if their children were born there. They have Hong Kong Identity Cards, but their nationality is still Nepalese. Without Chinese nationality, they are ineligible to apply for an SAR passport or a ‘home return permit’ . However, since July 2024, they have been able to apply for and receive the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Resident (Non-Chinese Citizens).
There are over 40 NGOs organized by Nepalese in Hong Kong, and these social organizations have government licenses. The Southern League Organization and Hong Kong Nepalese Federation Some of the NGOs are formed by different lineages; they provide services and share relevant news happening in Hong Kong or Nepal to different lineages, such as the lineage of Limbu, Rai, Gurung, Magar, etc.
More than 80% of Nepalese are employed in elementary occupations.
The Nepalese in Hong Kong mainly live in the Yau Tsim Mong area (33.2% of Hong Kong's Nepali population, and 2.4% of the district's population being Nepali) and the Yuen Long area (33.9%; 0.8%). As Kowloon Park was a main military camp for the brigade from Nepal, as well as Shek Kong in Yuen Long, they chose to live nearby after they left the camp. Some of them live in Wan Chai where they first arrived; in fact, their communities have spread out to more districts nowadays.