The fact that Muhammad Ali's twitching hand, brought about by Parkinson's syndrome, was selected to light the cauldron at the opening of the Atlanta Olympic Games symbolises a very important point as to how advanced countries such as the United States and Japan treat underprivileged or disabled people.
While the Hong Kong Government has admittedly come a long way in providing facilities for these people in many areas, the common people's attitude toward them leaves much to be desired.
There is considerable evidence of this in the territory.
Ramps and wheelchair accesses to buildings - if they are available - are nearly always built at the rear or side entrances or near refuse collection chambers, toilets and goods elevators in Hong Kong, while those in cities of many other countries are always at the main entrances with prominent indications and symbols declaring their presence.
Why are we so reluctant to admit that we accommodate disabled people? Some of these ramps are so steep that even a tank going up would probably topple over - not to mention a wheelchair. I guess they are just items for display or constructed to meet some government regulations.
Toilets for the disabled, including those in government properties, department stores, food establishments, universities and country parks are very often sub-standard (for example, without handrails) and abused.
Some have been turned into store-rooms while others are being used by non-disabled people.
