The University of Hong Kong recently conferred honorary doctoral degrees upon a number of outstanding individuals, including former Chinese University vice-chancellor Charles Kao Kuen and philanthropist Tin Ka-ping.
Kao's work in fibre optics changed the world of information technology. Industrialist Tin has devoted his life to education. The awards pay tribute to their immense contributions to society and promote humanism and the notion of a caring society.
John Chan Cho-chak was also one of the recipients for his contributions to society. But the ridiculous thing was that the Employers' Federation of Hong Kong, of which Chan is chairman, sent a letter to its members on the same day he received the honour, urging companies to review contracts with their staff and reminding them that they are not required to pay for staff meal breaks or rest days under the minimum wage law that comes into effect on May 1.
The letter effectively suggested employers change the payment calculations from a monthly to an hourly basis and exclude meal hours and days off, leading to a de facto cut in pay for workers, with total disregard for their welfare.
Chan was obviously trying to suggest that employers should exploit legal loopholes to save money and rip off low-paid workers. His blatant disregard for social justice and corporate social responsibility is an insult to fellow recipients and a slap in the face to the university who handed him the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences.
Hong Kong is facing the serious problem of a widening wealth gap. The rising number of working poor, according to Central Policy Unit head Lau Siu-kai, is a ticking time bomb ready to explode and rock social stability.
The minimum wage law can ease our social tension and improve social harmony. Setting a wage floor at HK$28 an hour is not unreasonable, considering today's high inflation rates.