A hiker holds the Nepalese national flag before the start of the "Hike for Nepal in Hong Kong" event in front of the Observation Wheel in Hong Kong's Central district on July 24, 2016. The hike was organised to promote tourism in Nepal following the devastating 2015 earthquake, which killed over 8,000 people and heavily impacted Nepal's tourism industry. (TENGKU BAHAR / AFP)
KATHMANDU - Nepalis who live in Hong Hong as part of the
Hong Kong society have been benefiting from Beijing's policy toward the special
administrative region of China, former Nepali Consul General in Hong Kong Mahesh
Dahal said.
Mahesh Dahal, now a government's secretary, said China has
successfully implemented the principle of "one country, two systems" in the Hong
Kong Special administrative Region (SAR) over the past 20 years, delivering
benefits to the Hong Kong people immensely.
It is estimated that there
are over 20,000 Nepalis living in Hong Kong. Those who choose to stay want to
take root there, especially if their children were born there. They have Hong
Kong identity cards, but their nationality is still Nepali.
Nepalis
first entered Hong Kong as part of the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas. When
Hong Kong returned to China in 1997, the brigade was disbanded and Gurkhas and
their children were allowed to stay there.
Since then, Nepalis there
have turned to other jobs available, particularly in the fields of hotel,
restaurant, security guard and construction, and found immense economic
opportunities there.
Muna Gurung, who has got Hong Kong residence
identity card, had no difficulty to find a job in Hong Kong when she got there
three years ago after marriage with a man already living there.
"It is
easier to get jobs in Hong Kong. Many Nepalis are working in hospitality and
construction sectors," Gurung told Xinhua, adding that despite being a minority
community in the region, the Nepalese are living a respectful life there.
Gurung, who is currently in Nepal, has all her family members residing
in Hong Kong. They are employed in different sectors in Hong Kong.
Although many Nepalis are in elementary jobs there, there is also a growing
number of Nepalis starting their own businesses in Hong Kong.
"Over the
last 20 years, Nepalis are seen establishing companies related to labor supply
for construction, hotels and restaurants, groceries and export-import
businesses," said Purna Basnet, a Nepali journalist who stayed in Hong Kong
almost a decade.
As doing business is easier in Hong Kong, Shiva
Lamichhane, a Nepali bullion trader, has expanded his business there. His wife
with Hong Kong identity card handles the business there. "I took the opportunity
for business expansion there," Lamichhane told Xinhua.
Basnet observed
that China has been applying "one country, two systems" successfully, which
could be envious to many.
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