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Taxi drivers will not be encouraged – but not required – to learn Arabic, Hong Kong’s commerce minister has said. It came after taxi fleets were urged to provide service information in the language as part of a push to cater to Muslim visitors from the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Though learning the language would not be compulsory, drivers would be encouraged to start with the basics, said Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau.
“Learning a new language isn’t easy, but if taxi drivers are interested, they can learn some basic phrases, such as greetings or thanks,” Yau told Commercial Radio on Friday.
During his third Policy Address on Wednesday, Chief Executive John Lee proposed measures to cultivate a tourist base from Middle Eastern and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) states, by “providing information at the airport in Arabic and encouraging taxi fleets to provide fleet service information in Arabic.”
‘Waste of breath’
The move sparked criticism among taxi drivers, including one who said learning Arabic phrases would be a “waste of breath.” Yau on Friday said learning the language was not a requirement, adding that conversing with Middle Eastern tourists in English would be fine.
Lee on Wednesday also said the government will compile a list of halal restaurants and encourage hotels to provide worship facilities.
See also: Chief Exec. John Lee urges religious, language and catering support for Muslim visitors
Yau on Thursday also said that hotels could improve their services by including dedicated prayer rooms, and to provide rooms with windows pointing towards Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. “When [Muslims] come to Hong Kong, whether for business or pleasure, they will feel at home,” Yau said.
Vincent Cheng, a lawmaker with the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, earlier said Hong Kong should set up more prayer rooms at the airport and develop travel guides specially for Muslims.
The tourism push comes as Hong Kong ramps up a charm offensive with the Middle East, looking to strengthen business ties and promote the city as a “common law gateway.”
Hong Kong last October held the Saudi Arabia-backed Aramco Team Series championship, while Chief Executive Lee, justice minister Paul Lam, and finance chief Paul Chan have all made visits to Riyadh to strengthen ties in recent years.
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