Should Hongkongers be counted in the census?
Hong Kong-born Australians are advocating for 'Hongkonger' to be recognized as a distinct ancestry category in the 2026 Australian census. Currently, the Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies Hong Kong ancestry under the broader 'Chinese' category, which activists argue ignores their unique cultural identity.
Why it matters
This debate touches on issues of ethnic identity, political representation, and how government data collection reflects the diverse backgrounds of immigrant populations.
The 2026 census will be held on Tuesday, August 11.
Hongkongers say they should be identified as distinct from Chinese ancestry in the upcoming census.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics uses the Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups to code ethnic groups.
Respondents to the census, which is next Tuesday, can now list four ancestries compared to two in previous years.
Link copied Share Share article On Tuesday night, Australian citizen Kevin Yam will fill out the census for the first time.
When he comes to the ancestry question, he plans to proudly write "Hongkonger" — a nod to the place he was born and lived for most of his life, before recent political turmoil forced him to leave.
But "Hongkonger" will not register in the data-gathering exercise, because it is not an option in the census's ancestry category, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
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