Puja Kapai talks to RTHK's Timmy Sung
The government is failing to fulfill its constitutional obligation to ensure that people are free from discrimination, according to the author of a new study by the University of Hong Kong which concludes that ethnic minorities here are “extremely marginalised.”
The study, by the University’s Centre for Comparative and Public Law, showed that ethnic minority residents consistently under perform in key areas such as income and education compared to the rest of the population.
In a comprehensive compilation of data from the government, non-governmental organisations and academic research, the Centre found that minorities are less likely to attend kindergarten or stay in school, while they’re more likely to hold low-paying, low-skilled jobs, and earn below-average wages.
The Centre’s director, Puja Kapai, told RTHK’s Timmy Sung that the report “is supposed to be a major eye-opener to the government… If everything is equal; if there is fairness in Hong Kong’s system; if you’re serious about your diversity pledge; then why do we have this consistent under performance across all areas of life for ethnic minorities?”
Kapai said the government is obligated under the Basic Law to guarantee equal rights for all, and urged the administration to set up a high-level committee to look into the major problems faced by minorities: education; discrimination; poverty; and health.
She added that the marginalisation of minorities “may not necessarily be based on racial discrimination. It may be that the way in which the system is designed is not capable to allow equal access. But that is indirect discrimination anyway.”
Speaking at a joint press conference with Kapai, the head of the Equal Opportunities Commission, York Chow, said many local schools and universities have a very low, or nonexistent ethnic minority population.
“I think this segregation is horrible. [Students] don’t understand there’s multi-culture. And how can you educate children when they don’t have that sort of environment when they’re young?”
Chow said he believes problems faced by ethnic minorities are getting worse.
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Last updated: 2015-09-23 HKT 16:25
The study, by the University’s Centre for Comparative and Public Law, showed that ethnic minority residents consistently under perform in key areas such as income and education compared to the rest of the population.
In a comprehensive compilation of data from the government, non-governmental organisations and academic research, the Centre found that minorities are less likely to attend kindergarten or stay in school, while they’re more likely to hold low-paying, low-skilled jobs, and earn below-average wages.
The Centre’s director, Puja Kapai, told RTHK’s Timmy Sung that the report “is supposed to be a major eye-opener to the government… If everything is equal; if there is fairness in Hong Kong’s system; if you’re serious about your diversity pledge; then why do we have this consistent under performance across all areas of life for ethnic minorities?”
Kapai said the government is obligated under the Basic Law to guarantee equal rights for all, and urged the administration to set up a high-level committee to look into the major problems faced by minorities: education; discrimination; poverty; and health.
She added that the marginalisation of minorities “may not necessarily be based on racial discrimination. It may be that the way in which the system is designed is not capable to allow equal access. But that is indirect discrimination anyway.”
Speaking at a joint press conference with Kapai, the head of the Equal Opportunities Commission, York Chow, said many local schools and universities have a very low, or nonexistent ethnic minority population.
“I think this segregation is horrible. [Students] don’t understand there’s multi-culture. And how can you educate children when they don’t have that sort of environment when they’re young?”
Chow said he believes problems faced by ethnic minorities are getting worse.
______________________________
Last updated: 2015-09-23 HKT 16:25
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1213131-20150923.htm
