Navigating Halal Practices for Muslim Consumers in the Absence of State Regulation in Hong Kong
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21580/ahkam.2026.36.2.29713Keywords:
community-based halal certification, consumer resilience, halal products in Muslim minorities, halal regulationsAbstract
This study examines the socio-economic dynamics and governance of ḥalāl in Hong Kong, where a minority Muslim community faces an absence of specific regulations within a secular, laissez-faire market. Employing a qualitative-inductive approach, the research uses primary data gathered through interviews with consumers and community organizations, as well as field observations. The findings indicate that this regulatory gap pertains solely to religious standardization—rather than a total absence of law—as the state retains the authority to prosecute commercial fraud. A market-driven approach has led to institutional fragmentation, characterized by a diverse and non-uniform array of foreign ḥalāl logos. This situation shifts transaction costs and the cognitive burden of verification onto Muslim consumers, who respond by relying on heuristic-based trust and engaging in active auditing. Community organizations, such as the ITICFHK, fill this void through informal governance rooted in communal trust and moral authority. The study concludes that community-based governance can sustain the religious practices of a minority group through social legitimacy. Yet, it cannot substitute for the coercive power of formal public law.
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