Many cultures have a tradition of hospitality. Custom and etiquette require that help be extended to strangers in need. Such traditions are worth emulating, especially for those who work in the service sector, when it comes to assisting people to answer the call of nature.
As we report today, many lower- and middle-end shopping malls across the city shut their toilets to patrons. They are, of course, perfectly within their rights to do so. Unlike public spaces operated by private estates, mall owners and operators are under no legal obligation to share toilet facilities. However, a few malls open their toilets to men but not women. This is simply sexist and may possibly violate sex discrimination laws. The malls save money by not having to hire many cleaners to look after the loos. But it is not necessarily a wise business decision.
Current laws require mall owners to estimate the flow of potential visitors and build enough lavatories to accommodate them. The Buildings Department is working to increase the number of toilets for female visitors in public places. Malls in Hong Kong, therefore, usually have enough toilets for people who need to use them. It is not a legitimate excuse for owners to claim their toilets would be overwhelmed if they were open to everyone.
In fact, most high-end malls, usually operated by deep-pocket corporations, already offer free access. It is good for business. The more people visit a mall, the more potential customers there are. A child who needs to use a washroom may end up taking his or her parents to a mall, where they may spend money.
But besides business, there is something indecent about denying facilities to people who need them. When you need to go, you need to go. Owners of smaller malls should not be so short-sighted as to save a few cents at the expense of losing dollars.
It would be a shame if a law had to be passed to require malls to open their toilets to the public. Not that such a move would be unreasonable, as it is not asking too much of a mall aimed at earning shoppers' money to do that. But such a law would be the best advertisement of a lack of decency among Hong Kong mall owners.