Cathay Pacific discrimination scandal: creating an inclusive Hong Kong is everyone’s business

Many in Hong Kong already work to make the city an inclusive and attractive tourist spot but we also need legislation, education and the collective effort of all of society to eliminate discrimination

Ricky Chu Man-kin

Published: 8:15am, 30 May 2023

Why you can trust SCMP

Hong Kong’s home-grown airline Cathay Pacific found itself embroiled in controversy last week after some of its cabin crew were accused of discriminating against and insulting Mandarin-speaking passengers. A leaked audio recording, released on mainland Chinese social media, revealed that the flight attendants had made derogatory remarks about passengers and made fun of them.

The incident sparked a public outcry. Cathay Pacific swiftly apologised, fired three flight attendants, and pledged to review its policies to ensure employees respect tourists of different backgrounds and cultures.

As the statutory body tasked with enforcing the anti-discrimination ordinances in Hong Kong, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has grave concerns about the incident, and the discrimination faced by mainland Chinese in the city.

Under the Race Discrimination Ordinance, it is unlawful to discriminate against, harass or vilify a person on the grounds of his or her race in areas of activity, including employment, education, provision of goods and services, disposal and management of premises and participation in clubs. “Race” refers to a person’s race, colour, descent, and national or ethnic origin.

Language is not a protected characteristic. However, language-related requirements or conditions may result in indirect discrimination against a particular ethnic group if members of the group are unable to meet those requirements or conditions and suffer detrimental treatment as a result.

For instance, if a service provider requires a customer to speak a particular language as a prerequisite to accessing certain goods or services, without providing justifiable reasons, such conduct could amount to unlawful indirect discrimination – that is, they would be imposing a requirement that effectively bars customers of a particular race or subjects them to detrimental treatment. The ordinance does not require the victim and perpetrator to be of different races.

A notice at a Kwong Wing Catering outlet in Hong Kong is seen on February 16, 2020. The EOC asked the company to remove the sign, after complaints of discrimination. The notice says the restaurant will only serve Hongkongers and can only take orders made in Cantonese and English, rejecting Mandarin. Photo: Facebook

Before this controversy, the discriminatory experiences encountered by mainland visitors and immigrants in Hong Kong were already a hot topic. From protests against mainland tourists in the early days to, more recently, restaurants refusing to serve mainland customers during the Covid-19 epidemic, the EOC has spoken out against such behaviour, explaining the provisions of the law and calling on the public to embrace and accommodate people’s differences.

As part of its ongoing review of the implementation of the anti-discrimination ordinances, the EOC submitted its findings to the government in 2021, laying out the proposals to tackle discrimination, harassment and vilification between people from Hong Kong and those from the mainland through legislation. The EOC has been liaising closely with the government to follow up.

The high-profile Cathay incident has drawn the ire of mainland Chinese and cast a shadow on the efforts of the Hong Kong government and tourism sector to make the city an inclusive and attractive tourist spot in the post-pandemic era.

Yet I believe it is an isolated case, as most frontline service staff in Hong Kong are professional and treat customers with respect and offer quality service. Many mainland netizens have also shared heartwarming experiences, such as of receiving help from strangers on public transport, to show they feel the warm and inclusive side of Hong Kong.

07:25

‘It’s still the Hong Kong I like’: mainland Chinese on how they feel in the city after social unrest

Indeed, many professionals are working tirelessly to uphold Hong Kong’s image as a world-class destination, while others are striving to rebuild business and tap the rebound in mainland arrivals after the Covid-19 pandemic. Whether from the business viewpoint or the perspective of equal opportunity, it would only be good for companies to provide quality goods and services to customers from different backgrounds and treat them equally with courtesy and respect.

At the end of the day, the key to eliminating discrimination, aside from legislation, is education. From instilling the values of diversity, inclusion and respect into children, addressing implicit biases and prejudices among ourselves and standing up against discrimination in everyday life, to introducing diversity and inclusive policies in the workplace, and arranging cultural sensitivity training for staff, all of us have a role to play in creating an inclusive Hong Kong, free of discrimination.

Eliminating discrimination is not only a legal requirement. It is also the ethical, moral and humane way to behave in modern society. Only through a multipronged approach that encompasses law enforcement, prevention and education, and with the collective effort of every sector and level of society, can we create a welcoming and inclusive Hong Kong that we can proudly call home.

Ricky Chu Man-kin is chairperson of the Hong Kong Equal Opportunities Commission