Bias watchdog criticises Link's failure in malls

The anti-discrimination watchdog isn't happy with efforts by The Link Management to improve access for the disabled at its shopping centres and car parks - and he's telling the company so.

'I'm not satisfied with their progress,' Equal Opportunities Commission chairman Lam Woon-kwong said yesterday.

Lam was speaking three months after a study by the commission found the provision of barrier-free facilities in many government premises and The Link's shopping centres - formerly owned by the government - to be far from satisfactory.

Lam told RTHK that the government had responded by giving the commissioner for rehabilitation the task of co-ordinating improvement among government departments.

But The Link's response had been 'scrappy'. He said the watchdog had legal power to issue an enforcement notice if an investigation found no satisfactory improvements had been made. 'But of course we don't wish to lock horns with them,' Lam said. 'It would be best if The Link, such a large property management firm, could strike a balance between having a social conscience and pursuing commercial considerations.'

The Link, which owns 180 retail and car park properties formerly owned by the Housing Authority, said it had been gradually adding barrier-free access to its buildings, but priorities had to be set for the work.

'We have followed up closely on the cases raised by the EOC,' a spokesman said.