HONG KONG – What a nasty spectacle to see racism in action on a huge scale! A pending court ruling exposes persistent racist attitudes that permeate Hong Kong. For the umpteenth time, the victims are domestic helpers, notably from the Philippines, who work in Hong Kong homes (mostly cooking, cleaning and caring for children, the elderly or pets).

Several domestic helpers seek a judicial review of the Immigration Ordinance that forbids them from becoming permanent residents, no matter how long they live and work here. Most people can gain permanent residency after seven years.

The law reflects serious discrimination and needs changing. Worse, many (even most) of Hong Kong's mainly Chinese residents react to the court case with resentment and alarm. Politicians, government officials and others try to spread fear by declaring that the city could be overrun with people from the Philippines, both those already here and family members rushing to join them. As part of their scare tactics, the alarmists launch petitions and insist that the housing supply and welfare services would be overwhelmed. One pro-Beijing political party, the rarely reliable Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), “projects” that 500,000 people would clamor for permanent residency.

Even before the court decision, government leaders plot how to prevent such an “undesirable” influx – maybe by outlawing work contracts that would allow domestic helpers to stay beyond seven years, by insisting that despite their long-time presence the helpers somehow failed to make Hong Kong their main home, or even by seeking a “reinterpretation” of the law from “higher powers” in Beijing. People behind the uproar want to pressure and influence the court.

“Stop-the-invasion” rhetoric sounds mean, petty and ridiculous. Most domestic helpers in Hong Kong work hard and bolster the economy. They're diligent, conscientious and tolerant of unfairness. Definitely, many of them are nicer, better and more trustworthy people than their bosses are.

No large-scale “influx” would materialize. Hong Kong people, like those in the DAB, hold a conceited view of their city as the world's best place to live. It's nothing close to that. For example, Filipinos come from a sovereign nation, which Hong Kong isn't. They engage in democracy and choose leaders by universal suffrage, basic rights that Hong Kong lacks (and may never attain).

Domestic helpers pursuing the judicial review want equal status with everyone else. If more people from the Philippines happen to stay permanently, then Hong Kong will benefit and become a better place as a result.

Distressing racism reflects badly on the perpetrators, not the victims. It's the latest instance of Hong Kong showing its hateful side when a little generosity and gratitude for the diligence of domestic helpers would be more appropriate.

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