Thais in Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
Thais in Hong Kong form a sizable minority. In 2003, there were an estimated 13,000 Thai people
in Hong Kong
, largely women. The 2006 Hong Kong by-census report showed 11,900 Thais living in Hong Kong, making up around 3.5% of the total non-Chinese population of 342,198, and about 0.17% of the total Hong Kong population.
An RTHK programme produced in 2009 estimated that the population of Thais in Hong Kong had risen to 30,000.
Other common professions include cleaners, waiters/waitresses, hairdressers, and bank officers. A minority of Thais in Hong Kong are businesspeople or investors; a large proportion of Thailand's outward investment in newly industrialised economies goes to Hong Kong. Direct investment by Thais in Hong Kong peaked in 1996 and then fell due to the 1997 East Asian financial crisis.
of Yuen Long, Shun Shan San Tsuen of Shap Pat Heung
, Ha Pak Nai of Tuen Mun and Tai Po Tai Wo
. Thais celebrate their new year on 13 April to 15 April in the "Songkran Festival". According to the Thai calendar, 13 April is the end of the old year while 15 April is the beginning of a new year. 14 April is usually regarded as the preparation for the new coming year. On this festival, there would be celebration by splashing water to each other. It signifies the washing-away of bad luck and welcoming good luck, prospects and happiness. They also put some bath powder on their face, which traditionally means protecting their skin. On the Sunday that is nearest to Songkran Festival, some of them celebrate in the temple while a majority of Thai people living in Kowloon City march through Tak Ku Ling Road, proceed along the Kai Tak Road and Lung Kong Road and continuously splash water for an hour.
Besides taking part in labour movements, TRA aims at enhancing the Thai community spirit and promotes friendship in Hong Kong. In order to ally the Thai migrant groups, TRA organizes functions regularly, for instance, the celebration of SongKran Festival in April annually. Moreover, in order to assist Thais to obtain better job and employment opportunities, the TRA conducts language courses (English and Cantonese) for them, especially for domestic helpers. In 2008, there were around 120 people who attended the English class while 13 people went to the Cantonese class. They also conduct Thai massage workshops for Thai workers. Their objective is to help migrant workers with skills for their use back to Thailand. Many domestic helpers who have children at their employers’ homes would also like to join the computer basic workshops too.
Thai people
The Thai people, or Siamese, are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia as well as southern China. Their language is the Thai language, which is classified as part of the Kradai family of...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, largely women. The 2006 Hong Kong by-census report showed 11,900 Thais living in Hong Kong, making up around 3.5% of the total non-Chinese population of 342,198, and about 0.17% of the total Hong Kong population.
An RTHK programme produced in 2009 estimated that the population of Thais in Hong Kong had risen to 30,000.
Migration history
There was a trend for some Hong Kong men to marry Thai women living in Kowloon City. This trend started since the 1970s. Yet their reason for immigration is not only for marriage. Historically, Thailand has had both high women’s workforce participation and a history of migration. It is common for Thais to engage in migration, seeking specialized skills, better land or enhanced household resources. Also, in the 1990s the labour demand in the Asia region increased for the political situation of Asian region like Hong Kong was seen as “safer” than the Middle East so more women migrated here to work.Employment
According to the 2006 Census report, the Thai working force in Hong Kong carries 7414 out of 11900 of whole Thai population in Hong Kong. 71.9% of the working force consists of domestic helpers and their median income is $4000. However, Thai domestic helpers are being replaced by Indonesian workers because the latter’s demand of wages is lower and their ability of speaking Cantonese is higher. Losing those two advantages, except for those Thai domestic helpers who can speak Cantonese, the Thai domestic helpers cannot occupy the mainstream market in Hong Kong. The minimum wage for domestic helpers in Hong Kong is HKD3,270 , adjusted downwards from HKD3,670; an additional levy on the salary is supposed to be paid by the employer, but the Thai Ministry of Labour reported in 2005 that employers often forced the employee to pay this levy instead.Other common professions include cleaners, waiters/waitresses, hairdressers, and bank officers. A minority of Thais in Hong Kong are businesspeople or investors; a large proportion of Thailand's outward investment in newly industrialised economies goes to Hong Kong. Direct investment by Thais in Hong Kong peaked in 1996 and then fell due to the 1997 East Asian financial crisis.
Festivals and religion
The majority of Thais in Hong Kong believe in Theravada Buddhism. In Hong Kong, there are four temples altogether and they are located in Ngau Tam MeiNgau Tam Mei
Ngau Tam Mei , also known as Yau Tam Mei , is a suburb located at Yuen Long at the New Territories, a place where the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link may pass by in the future...
of Yuen Long, Shun Shan San Tsuen of Shap Pat Heung
Shap Pat Heung
Shap Pat Heung is an area in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Located south of Yuen Long and northwest of Tai Tong, the area occupied the plain north of hills of Tai Lam. Cantonese name Shap Pat Heung means eighteen villages at its beginning. It is later expanded to thirty villages...
, Ha Pak Nai of Tuen Mun and Tai Po Tai Wo
Tai Wo
Tai Wo is an area in Tai Po Town in the New Territories of Hong Kong; it forms the northern part of Tai Po Town. It has its own railway station on the MTR and a market...
. Thais celebrate their new year on 13 April to 15 April in the "Songkran Festival". According to the Thai calendar, 13 April is the end of the old year while 15 April is the beginning of a new year. 14 April is usually regarded as the preparation for the new coming year. On this festival, there would be celebration by splashing water to each other. It signifies the washing-away of bad luck and welcoming good luck, prospects and happiness. They also put some bath powder on their face, which traditionally means protecting their skin. On the Sunday that is nearest to Songkran Festival, some of them celebrate in the temple while a majority of Thai people living in Kowloon City march through Tak Ku Ling Road, proceed along the Kai Tak Road and Lung Kong Road and continuously splash water for an hour.
Community organisations
Thai Regional Alliance (TRA) is an organization which helps Thai foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong to gain rights and to educate them about workers’ situation in both Hong Kong and Thailand (e.g. providing welfare services such as counselling and legal support). It links up with different Thai groups, NGOs and individuals both in Thailand and in Hong Kong and also in other parts of the world. The TRA is one of the founders and remains to be an active member of the Asian Migrant’s Coordinating Body (AMCB) and has been greatly involved in many coalition’s campaigns and activities (e.g. helping to gain minimum allowable wage, the suspension of the levy). By convincing Thai migrant workers to join and be active in their campaigns, TRA has enhanced the coherence between them and the foreign labour campaigns in Hong Kong to a certain extent.Besides taking part in labour movements, TRA aims at enhancing the Thai community spirit and promotes friendship in Hong Kong. In order to ally the Thai migrant groups, TRA organizes functions regularly, for instance, the celebration of SongKran Festival in April annually. Moreover, in order to assist Thais to obtain better job and employment opportunities, the TRA conducts language courses (English and Cantonese) for them, especially for domestic helpers. In 2008, there were around 120 people who attended the English class while 13 people went to the Cantonese class. They also conduct Thai massage workshops for Thai workers. Their objective is to help migrant workers with skills for their use back to Thailand. Many domestic helpers who have children at their employers’ homes would also like to join the computer basic workshops too.