Hong Kong. Today there are more than 300,000 Muslims in Hong Kong, of whom about 30,000 are Chinese, 30,000 are from Pakistan and 150,000 are Indonesians. The others are mostly non-Chinese born in Hong Kong. There are also Muslims from India, Malaysia and Middle Eastern and African countries.
The origin of Muslims in Hong Kong is difficult to trace. However, the Muslim community become conspicuous since Hong Kong came under British rule in the middle of the 19th century. The British brought Muslim soldiers from India. Coming with them were Muslim merchants. As Muslims increased in Hong Kong, forming a district community, the government allocated land to them to build mosques and cemeteries.
As years went by, more and more Muslims came to Hong Kong and settled down. Among them were Chinese Muslims coming from the Mainland.
Today, there are five masjid and two cemeteries managed by the Incorporated Trustees of Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong. Another temporary Masjid managed by United Welfare Union of Hong Kong. There are over 40 madrassah organized by different organizations teaching Quran reading for the children spread across the city. . There is one secondary school, four primary schools and three kindergartens and an elderly home run by the local Muslim organizations.
Six principal masjids are used daily for prayers. The oldest is the Jamia Masjid in Shelley Street on Hong Kong Island, which was established before the turn of the century and rebuilt in 1915. It can accommodate a congregation of 400.
The Masjid Ammar and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre, filling eight storeys in Wan Chai, was opened in 1981 and houses a masjid on two floors, a community hall, a library, classrooms and offices. The masjid is managed by the Islamic Union of Hong Kong and accommodates 700 people but can hold up to 1,500 by using other space in the centre.
The Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre, on what is sometimes called the 'Golden Mile' in Nathan Road, was opened in 1984 and replaced a masjid built in 1896. This imposing building, with white marble finishing, is a distinctive landmark in Tsim Sha Tsui. The masjid can hold about 3,000 worshippers and has three prayer halls, a community hall and a library.
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