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Amid the fifth wave of the epidemic, many people, including non-ethnic Chinese (NEC), have been tested positive for COVID-19. Special arrangements are required to cater for their different needs in terms of language, culture, and religion upon their admission to isolation facilities. In mid-March, the Security Bureau (SB) invited “Project Gemstone” members to join the fight against the epidemic by providing assistance in community isolation facilities especially for NECs. Yau Tsim District (YTDIST) has mobilised 15 members from “Project Gemstone” to join the SB Anti-epidemic Task Force (the Task Force). Its membership comprises Pakistani, Filipino, Indonesian, and Nepalese, some of whom being Muslims. They are hired by SB to help Immigration Department take care of persons undergoing quarantine in community isolation facilities.
To cater for the needs of the Muslims living in the community isolation facilities during Ramadan, YTDIST coordinated a series of actions. Initially, advice was sought from the Chief Imam of the Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre Mufti Muhammad Arshad, and the principal of Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College Ms Ho Sau-yin on matters such as Ramadan meal arrangement. They donated a large quantity of Quran, prayer rugs and date palms for the Muslims in the isolation facility. In addition, an Islamic Resource Centre and a “showroom” have been set up there. Members of the Task Force would then set up the room for the Muslims with reference to the “showroom”. Camp notices in various languages are posted in the quarantine rooms for Muslims, and Qibla pointers are shown for Muslims to perform prayers towards Mecca.
Moreover, efforts have been made for NECs to understand the community isolation facilities. On April 10, the Task Force, in which “Project Gemstone” members are included, together with Chief Imam Mufti Muhammad Arshad, visited Tsim Sha Tsui, where many NECs meet. Multilingual flyers were handed out to brief NECs on the living environment in those facilities.
