Jessie (second from left), who was born in Hong Kong, was reportedly told by a policeman to 'go back to India' . Photo: Apple Daily
EOC to police: Watch your language
Hong Kong’s anti-discrimination watchdog has warned the police about racist and abusive language when dealing with the public.
The warning was prompted by complaints about police use of discriminatory language against the disabled and minorities, notably from South Asia, according to public broadcaster RTHK.
York Chow, chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), said the agency received numerous inquiries during the recent street protests about such conduct by frontline officers.
However, since there were no formal complaints, the EOC decided not to investigate, Chow was quoted as saying.
One incident reportedly involved legislator Fernando Cheung who has a disabled daughter.
An officer told him to “go home and take care of your sick daughter” during a confrontation in the Mong Kok protest site on Nov. 27, according to reports.
Sources said the policeman might have breached the Disability Discrimination Ordinance and the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance.
In the same incident, a Hong Kong-born student, identified only as Jessie, was heckled by an officer who told her to “go back to India”, according to Apple Daily.
When Jessie reported the matter to the media, she said she could not identify the officer in the dark.
Chow said the EOC has written to police commissioner Andy Tsang to express its concerns.
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EL/JP/RA
Lawmaker Fernando Cheung was allegedly subjected to discriminatory language directed at his disabled daughter. EOC chief York Chow (inset) has expressed his concerns to the police. Photos: HKEJ
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