Letters to the Editor, September 23, 2013

One of the most uplifting stories to emerge from this year's Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education was that of Tsang Tsz-kwan who, despite being blind and hearing impaired, passed the diploma with flying colours.

However, while what she achieved is worthy of praise, it has to be said that the disabled who want to work and serve society, face barriers in Hong Kong, barriers which she is bound to encounter.

Employers appear reluctant to hire people with a disability even if they have better qualifications than a job candidate who is able-bodied. The government does not provide sufficient funds to employers so they can recruit people with special needs. Managers prefer employees without a disability to reduce daily operation costs. Even if disabled applicants have good academic qualifications they might find the only offer is an entry-level job.

It irritates me when I see the way disabled people are sometimes treated. Even worse, is when facilities to help them are opposed by other residents. Take, for example, efforts to build a disabled toilet in Wong Fong Street wet market in Kwai Fong as you reported in 2010 ("Calculating the cost of nimby objections"). Officials met opposition to the plan from some residents who "strongly objected to it".

People need to adjust their negative thinking. I hope attitudes will change and that such special people as Tsang Tsz-kwan will come to be accepted as pillars of our society.

Ng Ka-man, Kwun Tong