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Indians in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has been home to a large Indian community for over 150 years, and its contribution to Hong Kong’s emergence as a hub of global finance and trade is well-known. Thanks to their long presence, Indians have been able to integrate themselves into mainstream Hong Kong society. The Indian community is equally proud of its dual heritage and its relations with both India and Hong Kong. Members of the Indian community have established well-known institutions in Hong Kong, such as the Hong Kong University, the Ruttonjee Hospital, and the famous Star Ferry.
A growing number of Indian professionals are moving to Hong Kong to work in various industries such as the service sector, banking and finance, information technology, and shipping. The Indian community in Hong Kong is estimated to be around 44,140, including Indian nationals and people of Indian origin. Out of these, approximately 32,790 hold Indian passports. The largest groups within the community are Sindhis, Gujaratis, and Punjabis (Sikh). There are over 40 Indian associations in Hong Kong that are managed by diaspora and people of Indian origin.
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Hong Kong Indian population
Indians make up around 1% of the Hong Kong population and approx population of Indians in Hong Kong as of 2024 is 60,000 (60 thousand). As of the 2021 by-census, there were at least 101,969 persons of South Asian descent in Hong Kong. Many trace their roots in Hong Kong as far back as when India was still under British colonial rule and as a legacy of the British Empire, their nationality issues remain largely unsettled.
South Asians in Hong Kong include citizens of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and a small number of stateless persons and naturalized citizens of the People’s Republic of China. As a result, many of them also become British nationals (Overseas) or British citizens. According to the statistics of the Republic of India’s High-Level Committee on Indian Diaspora, among Hong Kong residents, there are 22,000 Indian citizens and 28,500 non-citizen Persons of Indian Origin (people with origins in British India, including places which lie outside today’s Republic of India, and having citizenships of countries other than the Republic of India.
Some famous Indians are Hormusjee Naorojee Mody, Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala, Hari Harilela, and Jehangir Hormusjee Ruttonjee who arrived independently in the course of trade from Bombay, Gujarat, and Karachi (Sindh).
As per the Ministry of External Affairs 2018 report, there are 38,729 (39 thousand) Indians residing in Hong Kong
- Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) – 7,160
- Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) – 31,569
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Religion of Indian population in Hong Kong
Hinduism is the main religion followed by people of Indian origin in Hong Kong. Sikhs and Muslims also have sizable numbers.
Hinduism is a minor faith in Hong Kong growing with South Asian birth growth. It is practiced by descendants of migrants from South Asia who are mainly businessmen. Hinduism is represented by 0.5% of Hong Kong’s population. There are 40,000 Hindus as of 2010. In 2016, it increased to 1.3% with 100,000 Hindus
Among respondents to the 2011 Census who self-identified as Indian, 37.2% stated that they spoke English as their usual language, 4.6% Cantonese, and 57.9% some other language.
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