Unlawful discrimination

I refer to the letter by Anna Sampson headlined 'Parking permit rule restricts disabled daughter's mobility' (South China Morning Post, March 30).

Ms Sampson's situation is covered by the Disability Discrimination Ordinance, which not only provides that it is unlawful to discriminate against a person with a disability, it is also unlawful to discriminate against a person who has an associate (in this case, a child) with a disability.

If, because of her daughter's disability, Ms Sampson is faced with obstacles resulting from parking in parking spaces which are not designated disabled, and other parents without disabled children do not face such obstacles, Ms Sampson may well have a claim for unlawful discrimination.

Ms Sampson may, if she wishes, lodge a written complaint with the Equal Opportunities Commission and we will look into the matter.

ALEXANDRA PAPADOPOULOS

Legal Adviser

Equal Opportunities Commission