Hong Kong’s ‘Leave Home Safe’ mandate amounts to differential treatment, equality watchdog chief warns

But Ricky Chu, chairman of Equal Opportunities Commission, says new rule does not breach any anti-discrimination laws as it concerns electronic devices

Chu calls for government staff to use ‘common sense’ in certain situations, after concerns emerge as to how homeless people and the underprivileged will cope with new rule

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Ricky Chu Man-kin, chairman of Hong Kong’s Equal Opportunities Commission. Photo: May Tse

Published: 9:11pm, 23 Oct 2021Updated: 10:49pm, 23 Oct 2021

Hong Kong’s move to mandate the use of its Covid-19 contact-tracing app at government buildings amounts to differential treatment, the city’s equality watchdog chief has warned, urging staff to rely on “common sense” in certain circumstances.

But the new rule stopped short of breaching the city’s anti-discrimination laws, said Ricky Chu Man-kin, chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission, in response to concerns it was unfair on those who did not own smartphones.

“I think the way to go about it is to use common sense to deal with the matter effectively,” Chu told a radio programme on Saturday.

From November 1, people entering government buildings will need to scan a QR code with the ‘Leave Home Safe’ app. Photo: Felix Wong

The comments came after a caller on the show complained of being “digitally discriminated against”, saying he had subscribed to a lower-end phone plan, which made downloading the app very difficult.

The government revealed on Thursday that from November 1, anyone entering its buildings would need to use the “Leave Home Safe” mobile app to scan a QR code, phasing out an existing option of manual registration. The Hospital Authority announced a similar requirement soon after the move.

The new rule was widely seen as a first step towards placating Beijing’s concerns over the eventual reopening of the border with mainland China.