Despite the work of the Equal Opportunities Commission, many people are still biased against people who are mental and physically handicapped. You feel that more should be done to educate the public against any form of prejudice. Write an essay discussing the kinds of prejudices people have against certain groups in Hong Kong. Suggest two ways to protect weaker or minority groups. Give your essay a title.
Genuine Equality for All
Equality and liberty have been some of the heated topics at all times, aiming to pursue a betterment of human lives. In Hong Kong, the Equal Opportunities Commission has been set up to foster equality in our city for long. Yet, more efforts to remind every citizen of not being biased against people of special needs, like the mentally and physically handicapped, are yet to be made.
It has already been a common sight to see some Hongkongers deliberately treat the handicapped unfairly simply because they are the minor ones. For example, some restaurants forbid the blind from entering as it leads to inconvenience to both customers and workers inside the restaurants, making the minor group feel inferior, disappointed and depressed. Not only does this break the heart of these unfairly-treated people, but this action in fact goes against the law. Besides, guide dogs are not kindly welcomed in some of the malls in Hong Kong, causing troubles for the disabled and hindering them from leading ordinary lives. These kinds of unfair treatment are just tips of the iceberg for the whole situation.
Apart from the cases on the streets, the situation in the workplace should not be neglected. Some companies practice corporate social responsibility to benefit our society by employing the disabled such as the mentally handicapped to handle a light amount of work. Yet, what makes people worried is that some of them are being treated below the belt. They may be blamed of working too slowly and spending too much time to comprehend a certain order. This phenomenon simply defeats the purposes of employing the disabled and further exacerbates the inequality between the two groups of people.
After all, we, humans, are all the same, being unique and special in everyone’s eyes. We should remind ourselves of the importance of putting ourselves into others’ shoes and embracing inclusion. Only then can we enjoy a harmonious city and a bright future. Yet, what could be done at this stage to turn around the situation?
First and foremost, education is a long-term yet effective measure to inculcate correct moral values into people’s minds over time. Let us not forget the minority groups have done nothing wrong or behave badly. The only difference between them and the normal ones is that the former group just lack a chance to lead a normal life as we do. Without limbs, functional brains, sensitive eyes, operative ears and the like, the disabled can hardly fuse into society and will easily be alienated. What truly counts is our acceptance and care for them, without viewing them with a different perspective. That way, the minor ones can feel more relieved and relaxed, having the chance to enjoy lives in a more joyful way.
Owing to the fact that education needs a long time to take effect, a more stringent approach, legislation, should be adopted alongside educational measures. The government could allocate more resources to the Equal Opportunities Commission to effectively enforce laws to tackle the issue of inequality. In addition, the EOC could suggest the government pass necessary laws to further protect the rights of the minority, which serves a deterrent effect. Being protected by law, it is hoped that the weaker or minority groups can be well-respected and hopefully, lead a normal life as what others do.
All in all, we, as Hongkongers and global citizens, should respect one another and embrace equality to build a lovelier global village. Only by educating the public and imposing regulations can we improve the current situation and pursue a genuine equality for all.
Ronald Tsang Yui Long
6E 2015-16