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South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Ethnic minorities in Hong Kong: how community centres can foster integration
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@ or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification The push for greater integration of non-Chinese Hongkongers, including those of South Asian descent, into Hong Kong society has led to multiple initiatives. The enactment of legal instruments and the establishment of the Equal Opportunities Commission have provided a legal remedy and oversight in the fight against discrimination. More recently, the city has set up care teams and community centres focused on members of ethnic minority groups in various districts to help them better integrate into the community. There are 10 such centres, providing various services such as language classes, recreational activities, psychosocial support and after-school tutoring. While these services are important and the government's commitment to helping the ethnic minority community is sincere, it must be asked whether these centres are doing enough to promote integration, or if they are unwittingly maintaining the status quo. A vital step towards integration would be to initiate programmes that foster connections between ethnic minorities and the majority group. It appears that the centres supporting ethnic minorities have yet to move the needle in favour of comprehensive integration. Free courses to improve language and soft skills might increase job opportunities for members of ethnic minority groups. But that's a far cry from citywide integration. The absence of shared spaces between ethnic minorities and the majority Chinese population is the missing link that these centres must bridge to achieve greater success. The first step towards this would be scrapping the 'ethnic minority' label attached to these centres and turning them into community centres that serve everyone, with staff members from all ethnic groups at all levels. This would not only broaden the scope of the centres but would also increase the chances of interaction between Chinese and ethnic minority Hongkongers, thereby establishing new points of connection and understanding.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2024-2025 Digital Accessibility Recognition Scheme Awards Presentation Ceremony Successfully Concluded
Record-High Number of Awardees Drives a Digitally Inclusive Society HONG KONG, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024-2025 Digital Accessibility Recognition Scheme, organised by Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC), co-organised by the Digital Policy Office, and with the Equal Opportunities Commission as Independent Advisor, held its awards presentation ceremony today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Scheme aims to promote digital inclusion, ensuring equal access to digital services for all members of society. With enthusiastic participation from enterprises across various sectors and robust support from multiple stakeholders, the Scheme achieved remarkable success, recording significant growth in both participation and awards, advancing the vision of a digitally inclusive society. This year's Scheme received an overwhelming response, reflecting growing societal emphasis on digital accessibility. A record-breaking number of awards were presented, including 439 and 102 for websites and mobile applications respectively. Notably, the newly introduced "Elderly-friendly Award" was conferred upon 119 websites and mobile applications, addressing the needs of an ageing population and fostering a more inclusive digital environment. Among industries, the transportation sector, media sectors and public services stood out with participation and awards showing substantial increases—70%, 33% and 23% growth respectively, demonstrating their proactive commitment. The ceremony was officiated by Mr. Tony Wong Chi-kwong, Commissioner for Digital Policy; Mr. Simon Chan Sai-ming, Chairman of HKIRC; and Ms. Linda Lam Mei-sau, Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Tony Wong commended awardees for "actively enhancing the accessibility of their websites and mobile applications, not only enabling persons with disabilities and the elderly in need to access electronic information and services so that they can fully integrate into the digital society, but also serving as role models for promoting accessibility design." Mr. Simon Chan expressed gratitude for the collective efforts in building an inclusive society, stating, "The social responsibility and innovative spirit demonstrated by participating enterprises form a cornerstone of Hong Kong's development as a smart city." Ms. Linda Lam added, "The Equal Opportunities Commission has been committed to promoting equal opportunities for people with different abilities to participate in all aspects of life, including independent access to both physical and digital environments, and to obtain information and participate in activities. The awardees have set powerful examples in promoting digital inclusion, inspiring more enterprises and organisations to contribute to a more equitable and inclusive Hong Kong, where everyone can enjoy equal opportunities." In addition to presenting awards to recognise participants' efforts, the organiser invited representatives from CareER, a platform supporting jobseekers with disabilities, and the Hong Kong Blind Union's member to share digital barriers in their daily lives. They highlighted past digital barriers faced by visually impaired individuals and the positive changes driven by increasing corporate commitment to accessibility. They expressed hope that more organisations will embrace digital inclusion, further enhancing the digital environment. Since launching the Scheme in 2018, HKIRC has been dedicated to promoting digital accessibility. Mr. Simon Chan noted, "This year's record participation is truly encouraging. The introduction of the Elderly-friendly Award aims to raise awareness of the elderly's needs in accessing digital services." He highlighted examples of applications with simplified interfaces, larger fonts, and voice navigation, which enhance user experience and demonstrate care for elderly users. "We are delighted to see many enterprises receiving the Elderly-friendly Award, reflecting their efforts to extend digital inclusion to diverse groups. Moving forward, we will intensify promotional efforts and offer technical workshops to deepen corporate understanding of digital inclusion, collectively building an equitable and accessible digital society." Looking ahead, HKIRC will continue to embed the concept of "digital accessibility" into everyday life, encouraging industries, especially those integral to daily living to embrace accessibility. By fostering a digitally inclusive society and supporting innovation, HKIRC aims to contribute to Hong Kong's smart city development, ensuring all citizens can share in the benefits of the digital era. For more details on the Digital Accessibility Recognition Scheme, please visit: About Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC)Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC) is a non-profit-distributing, non-statutory corporation designated by the HKSAR Government to administer the registration of Internet domain names under the .hk and .香港 top-level domains. As a key driver of Hong Kong's Internet development, HKIRC is committed to fostering an inclusive, secure, innovative, and international digital ecosystem, promoting the adoption of Internet and related technologies. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited
HKFP
25-04-2025
- HKFP
Hong Kong's equality watchdog represents female student in sexual harassment case against male classmate
Hong Kong's equality watchdog has initiated legal action in the District Court on behalf of a secondary schoolgirl against her male classmate, accusing him of sexual harassment. 'The Claimant alleged that a male classmate (the Respondent) sexually harassed her on many occasions from Form 2 to Form 4,' the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) said in a statement issued on Thursday. The male student allegedly sent sexually indecent messages to the female student via instant messaging apps and engaged in unwelcome physical contact, the EOC said. Despite the claimant's 'clear, explicit and consistent rejections,' he allegedly continued harassing her and even escalated his conduct. According to the EOC, she found his acts 'offensive and humiliating.' The equality watchdog said in the writ that the two students were classmates from Form 1 to Form 6, but they were not close friends. When they were in Form 2, the male student – now 18 – asked the female student, currently 19, to have sex with him, but she refused, local media outlets reported. Since then, he allegedly started sending her messages like: 'Just sleep with me' and 'Can't you just satisfy me?' When they were in Form 4, he allegedly grabbed the female student's bra strap, pulled her hair, and snatched her backpack. The female student subsequently suffered weight loss and depression, the EOC said. The case remained unresolved despite steps taken by the school and parents to handle the matter, according to the watchdog. 'The EOC also made many attempts to facilitate settlement of the case between the two young people by way of conciliation or negotiation during the investigation and provision of legal assistance stages,' it said. 'Unfortunately, the attempts were unsuccessful in resolving the dispute.' Raising awareness among students The EOC brought the legal proceedings under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, which stipulates that sexual harassment in the field of education is unlawful. Violating the ordinance may lead to civil liability. The claimant is demanding that the defendant pay HK$100,000 for emotional damages and an additional HK$20,000 in punitive or exemplary damages, according to local media. She is also asking the court to order the male student to cease the related behaviour and to provide a written apology. 'By bringing this case to court, the EOC hopes to raise awareness among students, teachers and schools about the importance of combating sexual harassment, which includes unwelcome sexual acts, comments and messages, as well as bullying within the school,' the EOC said. The case also serves as a reminder that sexual harassment among students is unlawful and can lead to serious legal consequences, it added. The EOC received 32 complaints related to sexual harassment in the education sector between 2022 and 2024, representing around 5 per cent of the total sexual harassment complaints received during that period, the watchdog said.
