Hong Kong’s eyes have traditionally been focused on the west and mainland China. For decades, Hong Kong has prospered by serving Western companies wanting to invest on the mainland and Chinese companies seeking Western markets.
02:12
The prince of Dubai, who became a hot topic in Hong Kong, seems to have an alter ego as a singer in the Philippines.
The prince of Dubai, who became a hot topic in Hong Kong, seems to have an alter ego as a singer in the Philippines.
In recent years, Hong Kong has been organizing cultural exchanges with the Middle East, such as through the annual “Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances” held by the Leisure and Cultural Services Bureau. However, most of the activities held so far seem to have been his one-time interactions. Nor was it aimed at building a local talent pool with knowledge of the Middle East.
For example, the last Asian Cultural Cooperation Forum held in Hong Kong in 2022 was attended by representatives from Iran and Saudi Arabia, and provided a useful forum for ministers and officials to exchange views. However, Hong Kong’s influence in building comprehensive knowledge about the Middle East has been limited.
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Saudi science and technology minister says China is a ‘success story to emulate’ during visit to Hong Kong
Saudi science and technology minister says China is a ‘success story to emulate’ during visit to Hong Kong
What might help is a deeper revision of Hong Kong’s school curriculum. The Education Bureau has added the theme “The Rise of Islamic Civilization and Cultural Exchanges between Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages” from the 2020/2021 academic year for junior high school students. However, the extent to which local teachers have the knowledge to teach Islamic civilization and culture should be considered.
The lack of study of Islamic culture in secondary and university education has left the city unprepared for the growing demand for teachers qualified to teach such subjects. The government needs to conduct a comprehensive analysis of available teachers and introduce training programs as necessary.
Dubai reminds Hong Kong that democracy isn’t everything
Dubai reminds Hong Kong that democracy isn’t everything
The Education Department has sought to develop and deepen educational resources in Islamic studies by involving experts from higher education institutions. However, Hong Kong universities still lack a stable core of Middle East experts. China University has a Center for Islamic Culture Research, whose latest activity appears to be a series of lectures held in 2021. Additionally, the latest Chinese-language book on Islamic studies published locally by the center is from 2020.
The University of Hong Kong is the only university in the city that offers a minor in Arabic studies. Most other universities here offer a Middle East module, but it is limited to Arabic. There are exchange programs between local universities and universities in the Middle East, but their effectiveness and popularity among students are questionable.
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Hong Kong leader John Lee eyes commercial opportunities with Middle East countries
Hong Kong leader John Lee eyes commercial opportunities with Middle East countries
It is clear that the Hong Kong government is keen to engage with the Middle East’s business sector. However, so far, local education and research on Middle East issues appears to be mainly limited to history and language. Moreover, there are far fewer scholars of Middle East issues in Hong Kong than in Western or Chinese cultures.
Government plans for engagement in the Middle East have increased the demand for local talent with expertise in Arabic business practices, Middle Eastern society, Islamic culture and economics, but this demand is not being fully met. It’s hard to say.
For Hong Kong to establish itself as a bridge between China and the Middle East, it needs to acquire knowledge of both sides. Some progress has been made, but more needs to be done.
John Hanzhang Ye is a doctoral student in the history of science and technology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and also holds a master’s degree in sociology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
