According to the 2011 Census, there is a total of 451,183 (6.4% of the whole population) ethnic minorities (EM) in Hong Kong.  They are a heterogeneous group, often with a long history from family migration to the high proportion of locally-born EM (from 10.3% in 2001 to 13.3% in 2011).  There are about 14,076 (1.94%) ethnic minority students (predominantly from South Asia and/or South East Asia with low socio-economic background).

Ethnic minority children and youths in HK generally face some adjustment difficulties, namely, social exclusion, perceived racial-ethnic discrimination, and disparities in education, health care, social services, housing, or employment due to a number of interrelated factors including insufficient Chinese language skills, lack of knowledge about or access to available services, difficulties in finding school places and employment opportunities, and discriminatory treatment.

The Jockey Club Lab for Cultural Diversity Study, a component under the C-for-Chinese@JC initiative launched by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, aims to support the EM group in 5 major domains: (1) Diagnostic Assessment; (2) School-based Support; (3) Community Support; (4) Professional Networking & Wisdom Sharing; and (5) Public Education, which will lay the foundation for longer-term viability of youth development, social integration and civil participation of EM in Hong Kong.