Filipino sues over alleged racial slur
A Filipino has launched a lawsuit against a person who she says made discriminatory remarks about her race in the first such case brought under the Race Discrimination Ordinance since it was enacted in 2009.
Dominga Adaan Damias filed a writ in the District Court on Monday alleging vilification by Wu Muk-yung whose public conduct, she said, incited 'hatred towards, serious contempt for, or severe ridicule of' her on the ground of her race.
According to the claim, the incident took place outside the gate of the Dragon View apartment block in Ho Man Tin at about 9.30am on March 17. Details were not given.
Damias is asking the court to declare that Wu's conduct violated the ordinance and to order that she not repeat the act. Damias is also asking Wu to give a written apology and pay compensation for injury to her feelings.
Commenting on the case, lawyer Daniel Wong Kwok-tung said the complaint probably arose from comments by Wu about the complainant. For example, labelling a person of a particular race with a nickname could breach the race harmony law.
Filipino Migrant Workers' Union chairman Eman Villanueva said the union had received more such complaints since the Manila hostage tragedy. 'Many complainants are afraid that their employers will know about the proceedings. They don't want to jeopardise their jobs so they never take action.'
In one recent complaint to the union, a person was spat at in a bus. In another case, a victim had dirty water poured on her when she was shopping at a market.
Damias could not be reached yesterday and her lawyer did not reply to an inquiry. Wu could not be reached.
