Observed annually on 21 March, IDERD provides an opportunity for the community to come together to speak out against all forms of racial discrimination. This year, the EOC mobilised signatories of the Racial Diversity and Inclusion Charter for Employers (Charter) and schools participating in the Racially Friendly Campus Recognition Scheme to promote the message of racial equality and non-discrimination through various online and offline activities. The EOC also launched a social media kit to encourage the wider community to take meaningful action on IDERD.

In an article published in HK01, EOC Chairperson Ms Linda LAM Mei-sau called on the community to welcome guide dog users to ensure they can enjoy equal participation in society. The article followed recent media reports alleging that a restaurant denied entry to some guide dog users and their guide dogs. The restaurant subsequently issued an apology for the incident, emphasising that it welcomes guide dog users, and promising to enhance staff training.

The Equal Opportunity Cup: Inter-School Debate Competition is entering its final stages as four schools – Fanling Rhenish Church Secondary School, Heep Yunn School, Hong Kong University Graduate Association College, and Tsung Tsin Christian Academy – will progress to the semi-final after the fierce quarter-final competitions last Saturday. Launched for the first time in December 2024, the competition aims to provide opportunities for secondary school students to explore issues related to equal opportunities in Hong Kong, and to promote diversity and inclusion by raising public awareness of the anti-discrimination ordinances.

The Hong Kong Network for the Promotion of Inclusive Society (HKNPIS) has released a narrative micro film Fearless, to enhance public understanding of people with disabilities. Directed by renowned local director Mr AU Cheuk-man, the micro film centres on a love story between a young man with visual impairment and a young woman with hearing impairment. Featuring the HKNPIS’ Fearless Dragon Running Team, a team that consists of visually and hearing-impaired people, the micro film offers a nuanced portrayal of the lives and challenges faced by people with disabilities and their resolutions. The film was funded by the EOC’s Community Participation Funding Programme on Equal Opportunities.

The Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) recently released a study that found 46.7% of parents of children with special educational needs (SEN) said their children’s behaviour had led to unfriendly reactions from the public. The finding was based on a survey of 520 parents of children with SEN conducted between September and October 2024. Common reactions included uncomfortable stares (43.1%), mocking (31.7%), and verbal abuse (28.7%).