Year of the Rooster plenty to crow about

THE country's Chinese community wake up to the Year of the Rooster today with permission to crow as loudly as they like about the attractions of their art, culture, food and festivities.

But some members will be keeping quiet as they try to maintain a low profile for fear of alerting the authorities to their questionable legal status.

The "blacked out", as they are called, have usually overstayed their visas or work permits, or have breached some condition of their stay.

Community leaders can't say how many fall into this category but examples regularly turn up at the Irish Chinese Information Centre seeking advice on how to regularise their situation.

"They don't give their real names and they don't always tell us everything," says centre chairwoman, Dr Katherine Chan Mullen, who gives a response that is supportive and realistic.

"We tell them there are two ways of doing this. They either apply for a new visa or extension to their visa, or they go home. Sometimes there is a good reason like a sickness and we make representations for them but most need to sort things out themselves."

The number of Chinese people in Ireland is estimated to be between 30-45,000, with the large, transient language school student population making the calculation of precise figures difficult.

In the 2002 census of population, 5,766 people categorised themselves as being of Chinese nationality and an Irish resident, but this is not a relevant figure.

Third level institutions last year reported to the International Education Board that they had 2,784 Chinese students on their books but the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Sha Hailin, said he believed there were 15,000 or more.

There are several hundred permits issued to Chinese applicants each year, mainly to people coming to work in Chinese restaurants.

Whatever the size of the community, however, its influence is undoubted. An estimated 130,000 people attended the first Chinatown Festival last year, forcing this week's to move to the larger venue of National Museum's Collins Barracks.

The festival got under way last night with a new year's eve fundraising concert for the Asian tsunami disaster attended by Sha Hailin and Minister for Education Mary Hanafin.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who could not attend, sent a message saying: "Events like the festival enrich the cultural life of our country. They not only add vibrancy and colour to local life but they help promote understanding and fellowship between our people in a very enjoyable way."

The festival continues until Sunday with a whole host of different events.

Some events are ticket only and details are available at www.dublin.ie/chinatown and from the ticket office on 01-4487777.