All Hong Kong citizens have a responsibility to build inclusive society
I refer to Giles Brennand's article ("The Equal Opportunities Commission puts too much focus on rights and not enough on responsibilities", November 3). The article contains a number of mischaracterisations that merit clarification.
In reviewing the discrimination law, the commission is not trying to "create rights out of thin air". Rather, according to the Bill of Rights and the Basic Law, each person has intrinsic and universal rights, which deserve adequate protection. Such rights are also set out under international human rights instruments, which apply to Hong Kong.
Contrary to what Mr Brennand implied, the commission believes that the existence of human rights necessarily entails practical responsibilities, including safeguarding other people's rights.
Such responsibilities belong to everyone, from individuals to organisations, and are a vital part of one's obligations as a citizen. In short, we have a responsibility to each other to build an inclusive society. This coincides with the vision and mission of the commission.
We are, thus, not suggesting these responsibilities are the sole domain of the government, though it does have a key role in implementing and ensuring human rights within a social system. It would, however, be a stretch to think that families can entirely replace such a system.
After all, throughout Chinese history, a few prominent families sought only to protect their vested interests - much to the detriment of the masses left behind socially, economically, and politically, leading to numerous revolutions and uprisings.