Income inequality of South Asians in Hong Kong: the role of race, religion and human capital

Abstract

This study extends the understanding of how skin colour and religious affiliation are related to the economic well-being of South Asian groups in an East Asian city. Using data from the 2016 Hong Kong By-Census, we analyse income inequalities between South Asian groups and local-born Hong Kong Chinese. Among three South Asian groups (Indian, Nepalese and Pakistani), Pakistanis are a minority group with large representation of Muslim. The analysis shows that having dark skin colour and being a member of a minority group with large representation of Muslim are not major contributors to economic disadvantages faced by Pakistanis in Hong Kong. The low income of Nepalese and Pakistani reflects their lower level of education.