Published Thursday, 13 September 2012
A photo of the victim in hospital. (© Mark Jamieson)
The 44-year-old victim was punched and kicked by a gang of four men and a woman in the Long Commons area of the Co Londonderry town on Tuesday at around 9pm.
His family are now considering leaving the area.
Speaking at the Challenge Hate Crime Conference on Thursday, Mr Ford said society must be united against all forms of hate crime.
"If we are to address the issue of hate in our society we must get to the heart of what drives this thinking and leads people to commit a hate crime," said the Alliance leader.
"Crimes motivated by hate are an attack on a person's very identity, on their community and on the very idea of a tolerant, inclusive and diverse society.
"For my part, I am committed to doing all I can to deal with it."
The Chinese man was in his kitchen with his wife and three-year-old daughter when they heard a commotion and the sound of breaking glass at the front of the property.
He went to investigate and upon confronting the gang, he was attacked.
UTV spoke to his wife, Ruoyin Luo, who described finding him "holding his head and eyes and blood was running down everywhere."
She said: "I kept screaming and screaming and tried to call the ambulance and police.
"Probably we will find a new house - that is the first step. Then we will see whether or not [we will] leave."
Mr Ford said the Department of Justice is currently working with criminal justice organisations to develop a hate crime action plan.
"As part of the Action Plan, we need to look to how to improve detection rates and prosecutions - which I hope will in turn increase confidence in the justice system and address the issue of under reporting which we currently face," he said.
"There is a role for others such as government departments, schools, employers, churches, the voluntary and community sector, those working with children and young people.
"However, real inroads will only be made when society as a whole stands up to hate crime."
Police have appealed for anyone with information on the attack to come forward.