Hong Kong club-goer who won legal battle against ladies’ night discrimination is denied payout for ‘injured feelings’

In a decision handed down on Thursday, acting chief district judge Justin Ko King-sau wrote it would be “absurd” if the claimant obtained a “windfall” of as much as HK$50,000.

The Equal Opportunities Commission filed the case in the District Court in October last year on behalf of Yiu, who accused a karaoke and disco club of breaching sex discrimination laws by charging men more for a drink than women.

Despite having received similar complaints dating back to at least the late 1990s, the commission said earlier that this was the first time it had taken such a case to court.

The court accepted the watchdog’s application for a judgment after Legend World Asia Group, named as the respondent, failed to give notice of opposition.

Yiu said he paid HK$300 to enter the Legends Club on July 28, 2014, while women customers were charged HK$120 for the same facilities and services. He claimed he was treated less favourably by Legend World Asia on the grounds of his sex.