Racism law: thorough implementation will be key
The Hong Kong government's willingness to support an anti-racism law ('HK backs moves to outlaw racism', June 9) is good news for all ethnic minorities residing here and people who will visit Hong Kong.
Although the government took a long time to admit that it has a responsibility to protect minorities, it should be praised for making this decision. We hope that the new law will be able to reduce inequity, harassment and humiliation of minorities, which is common in Hong Kong, even in the professional sector.
But several aspects need to be considered in implementation. First, there should be no grace period - discrimination should not be allowed, even for a short period. Otherwise, this would reflect a weak law.
Second, when the law is in effect, a public awareness campaign would be necessary, and done periodically.
Third, senior executives should be educated to develop positive attitudes towards ethnic minorities, as they often influence organisational attitudes. This could be done through seminars with mandatory participation or by providing educational literature.
There should also be reporting centres, information about the reporting mechanism for offences and mechanisms for monitoring and reinforcing the law.
The law will boost the chief executive's commitment to making Hong Kong a world-class city. But success will depend on how completely the law can eliminate racial discrimination. Which reminds me of a village saying: 'The pregnant mother will deliver a baby, but whether dead or alive is not yet known.' We hope that this law will be born alive and continue to grow.
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