On 26 March 2026, the EOC released the findings of the Study on Improving Social Wellbeing of Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong through Ameliorating the Digital Divide, which aims to understand whether digital services help ethnic minorities (EMs) access the public information they need and benefit from information and communication technology-based services, with a view to promoting greater use of inclusive designs and enhancement of digital literacy to help EMs integrate into the digital economy.

The study was conducted by a research team from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) through questionnaires, experimental research, and focus groups, covering 412 ethnic minorities. The research team was led by Principal Investigator Assistant Professor Fangda Ding, alongside Co-investigator Associate Professor Kwan Nok Chan—both from HKU’s Department of Politics and Public Administration—and Co-investigator Pui Hong Chung, Clinical Associate Professor of Practice and Assistant Dean (Health Sciences Programmes & Admissions) at the LKS Faculty of Medicine.

The study found that digital adoption among EMs in Hong Kong is high, with over 70% having used the public service app “iAM Smart” and over 60% having used the app “HA Go”. However, they continue to face barriers, such as language limitations and insufficient digital literacy when accessing digital public services and information, healthcare services, and community services. The study also found that EMs’ user experience and social participation could be improved if digital platforms offered multilingual support, simpler user flows, and more culturally sensitive designs.

Based on the findings the study proposed a number of recommendations, including: establishing a unified digital services framework for EMs by the Government; engaging EM communities in digital service design by technology developers and service providers; and building digital capacity among EM communities through the efforts of stakeholders.

To learn more about the study, please read the following media coverage:

1. https://www.eoc.org.hk/en/PressRelease/Detail/18709

2. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348032/official-apps-pose-hurdles-hong-kongs-ethnic-minority-groups-study-finds?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article

3. https://spyan-jour.hkbu.edu.hk/2026/03/26/%E5%B9%B3%E6%A9%9F%E6%9C%83%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6-%E5%B0%91%E6%95%B8%E6%97%8F%E8%A3%94%E7%B6%B2%E4%B8%8A%E7%94%A8%E5%85%AC%E7%94%A8%E6%9C%8D%E5%8B%99%E4%B8%8D%E6%99%AE%E5%8F%8A-%E8%AA%9E%E8%A8%80/

4. https://today.line.me/hk/v3/article/pek0Omq

5. https://www.bastillepost.com/hongkong/article/15795925-%e5%b9%b3%e6%a9%9f%e6%9c%83%e7%a0%94%e7%a9%b6%ef%bc%9a%e6%9c%ac%e6%b8%af%e5%b0%91%e6%95%b8%e6%97%8f%e8%a3%94%e6%95%b8%e7%a2%bc%e6%87%89%e7%94%a8%e9%ab%98-%e6%83%9f%e8%aa%9e%e8%a8%80%e5%8f%8a%e6%8a%80