Racism in HK?

[Kushka]

As life happens I may be having to stay with relatives in Hong Kong for anything up to 4 months and I was wondering what the general attitude towards half chinese, half caucasian people is.
I'm asking this as I've met a few chinese people who I get the impression disaprove of "race mixing". I didn't dig deeper but I assume it's to do with ancestry or something.
Anyway, here are my questions.
I've got the occasional weird look whilst in Malaysia, should I expect the same here?

Assuming my cantonese is impeccable, should I expect to be asked questions about my parentage/nationality from strangers?

And is there any active prejudice or discrimination against "half-breeds"?

I should add that I'm not white. In fact, I look Chinese expect I have larger eyes, western eye-lids and a vaguely English head. I'm aware that was quite trivial but these things are often skin-deep.

Anyway, thanks for any help

[Claire ex-ax]

Eurasians in Hong Kong seem to end up as models or tv presenters.

[jaykay]

In HK? Well they've been getting used to mixed people for the last 170 years at least! Mixed kids are generally thought of as beautiful and there are many stars and models in HK of mixed blood. There will always be the odd person who doesn't like it but who cares. You'll find plenty of others here of the same heritage.

[jayinhongkong]

A lot of locals LOVE Eurasians and you'll get a lot of (positive) attention. :P

[chimo]

If you are good looking bird and you don't dress conservatively, some people are going to stare at you, especially in Malaysia, Pakistan, etc... But you will be OK in HK. I dont know how staring equates to racism.

Who did you ask about "race mixing"? I dont think anyone under the age of 40 would care.

[Lammarite]

Dirty half-blood muggles!

[jgl]

Anyway, here are my questions.
I've got the occasional weird look whilst in Malaysia, should I expect the same here?

Anyone who looks unusual gets weird looks in HK. It doesn't mean anything.

Assuming my cantonese is impeccable, should I expect to be asked questions about my parentage/nationality from strangers?

The Cantonese are incredibly blunt when it comes to speaking, so you might get questions from anyone you strike up converstaion with such as your dry cleaner or local grocery store owner. It doesn't mean anything.

[Football16]

Eurasians in Hong Kong seem to end up as models or tv presenters.

I know a young guy here in HK who has mixed parentage and he is good looking by any one's standards so much so that in Vancouver he was told to try out to be a model. But, there when they want an Asian (Chinese) model there, they must look Chinese and not like the ads here where it is hard to tell with women or males if they are Asian or Caucasian.

Here he just got hired by a popular fashion magazine to sell ads. When he told me he was interviewing for the job, I told him that they'd hire him over some fat blob who the closest he would get to their magazine is to buy it. At first he didn't get it, but when he went back for second interviews, the creative director told him what I had told him. They want someone representing their magazine who looks like someone they might actually have in it.

I think looks are a non-issue but common interests with locals will be an issue for you. At universities in Canada, they have clubs like for CBCs - Canadian Born Chinese which to me means any born in HK or elsewhere are not welcome. I have asked numerous Chinese if they are offended by that and nope - apparently just me. They want to hang out with friends with common interests and backgrounds to them and it is not CBCs.

[PDLM]

the ads here where it is hard to tell with women or males if they are Asian or Caucasian.

Or, often, whether they are male or female! The wimpy, campy metrosexual look seems to be the way here.

[wtbhotia]

Strangers aren't going to come up to you suddenly and ask you why you are different, very very rare as most people are too busy to care. Like Jgl said your local shops when you buying something might ask you where your from etc but they dont mean bad, they are just trying to get to know you. Not all locals are bad.

Older generation locals especially the ones in the rural villages might disapprove but even their blood line is getting FU%^ED as people go out and mix. If you get odd looks either ignore it or just stare at them back or even better as you can speak the lingo, shout "WHAT" in Cantonese.