The EOC released on 7 July the findings from the “Study on the Challenges Encountered in the Siting of Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) and other Social Welfare Facilities in Hong Kong”. The Study was conducted to examine the difficulties in securing permanent accommodation for ICCMWs, and help eliminate misunderstanding of the nature of the services provided by the centres.

Under the Study, interviews with the persons-in-charge of the 24 ICCMWs in 18 districts were conducted. The EOC also approached relevant Government departments for information and reviewed the documentation concerned, including the papers of the District Councils and Legislative Council. The Study showed that the resistance of the local community to the ICCMWs is another example of the “Not in My Backyard” syndrome. Underlying such resistance is a lack of understanding of mental health issues and persons with mental illness, which is further aggravated by the less than perfect public consultation process.

As a result of opposition from the community, only 14 out of the 24 ICCMWs are operating in their permanent sites, while the remaining 10 are providing services in temporary site/accommodation. The limitations of the temporary sites, including the size and location, affect not only the quality, but also the quantity of services.

Professor Alfred CHAN Cheung-ming, Chairperson of the EOC said: “The community resistance encountered by the ICCMWs cannot just be ascribed to the selfishness of some leaders and residents of the community. Instead, we should be concerned about the public’s misunderstanding of persons with mental illness underlying such resistance. While the imperfect public consultation deepened the misunderstanding of the services and service users among the local residents, which in turn intensified the voice of opposition against these facilities, the supply of land for social welfare use is insufficient to meet the demand.”

Based on the findings of the Study, the EOC has made a number of recommendations for action by the Government, including refining and regularising the public consultation exercise, and enhancing mental health education of community leaders and the public. The Government is also recommended to take a more proactive approach in identifying and supplying land for social welfare use. In addition, the EOC has suggested the Government to introduce amendments to the relevant legislation, such that the EOC can take remedial action in its own name by applying to the court for declaratory and/or injunctive relief against discriminatory acts even in the absence of a complainant.

Read the press release
Read the Study Report
News Highlights

The EOC is now inviting applications for the Community Participation Funding Programme (CPFP) 2016/17 – 2nd Batch. The Programme aims to facilitate eligible organisations to carry out projects which promote public understanding of equal opportunities, foster anti-discriminatory attitudes, and motivate members of the public to support and apply the principles of equal opportunities in everyday life. To be eligible for consideration of funding, the applications should reach the EOC by 12 September 2016, and clearly state how the planned activities will promote equal opportunities, and/or foster anti-discriminatory attitudes and behaviours. The maximum funding limit of each project is $50,000.

More about the CPFP

The EOC launched its YouTube Channel in 2008 to promote awareness about equal opportunities and social inclusion through the popular online platform. Since the channel’s launch, a total of 245 videos have been uploaded with almost 400,000 views. In addition to video highlights of the EOC’s activities and events, documentary dramas and announcements of public interest (API), we have uploaded winning entries of the EOC video competition and the Equal Opportunities Micro Film Competition 2015, as well as videos with audio description, which were produced by the EOC in collaboration with the Hong Kong Society for the Blind. The EOC will continue to update the playlist to provide greater infotainment to the public, so stay tuned!

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The Multiculturalism in Action Project of The Chinese University of Hong Kong is organising a Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Culture Workshop this summer, and is now recruiting participants. The Workshop, held between 16 July and 27 August, will feature seminars, field visits, buddy project, and community enhancement programmes. The Workshop is free of charge and open to anyone over 18. Interested parties may register on or before 10 July. For enquiries, please contact Ms Connie LEE via lee-connie@cuhk.edu.hk.

Multiculturalism in Action is a knowledge transfer project. It aims to raise awareness of South Asian culture as part of Hong Kong’s local heritage, and to dispel the stereotypes and misunderstanding that have sprung from cultural ignorance. Through the project, young people of mainstream and minority origins work together to make a change in Hong Kong.

About the Multiculturalism in Action Project
About the Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Culture Workshop