Readers discuss efforts to create a more inclusive city, a recent suspected murder-suicide case, and a heartwarming experience on a minibus Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification
The push for greater integration of non-Chinese Hongkongers, including those of South Asian descent, into Hong Kong society has led to multiple initiatives. The enactment of legal instruments and the establishment of the Equal Opportunities Commission have provided a legal remedy and oversight in the fight against discrimination.
More recently, the city has set up care teams and community centres focused on members of ethnic minority groups in various districts to help them better integrate into the community. There are 10 such centres, providing various services such as language classes, recreational activities, psychosocial support and after-school tutoring.
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While these services are important and the government's commitment to helping the ethnic minority community is sincere, it must be asked whether these centres are doing enough to promote integration, or if they are unwittingly maintaining the status quo. A vital step towards integration would be to initiate programmes that foster connections between ethnic minorities and the majority group.
It appears that the centres supporting ethnic minorities have yet to move the needle in favour of comprehensive integration. Free courses to improve language and soft skills might increase job opportunities for members of ethnic minority groups. But that's a far cry from citywide integration. The absence of shared spaces between ethnic minorities and the majority Chinese population is the missing link that these centres must bridge to achieve greater success.
The first step towards this would be scrapping the "ethnic minority" label attached to these centres and turning them into community centres that serve everyone, with staff members from all ethnic groups at all levels. This would not only broaden the scope of the centres but would also increase the chances of interaction between Chinese and ethnic minority Hongkongers, thereby establishing new points of connection and understanding.
The exposure to a multicultural environment would fast-track integration of ethnic minorities. It would also allow more Chinese Hongkongers to learn about ethnic minority groups and abandon stereotypes.
Zia Ullah Akhunzada, Tai Po
Kindness in the aftermath of a storm
On Tuesday last week, just after the black rainstorm warning was lifted, I was waiting at Kwun Tong Ferry Pier for the 103 minibus heading towards Clear Water Bay. After quite a long wait with no buses in sight, a driver finally showed up. I asked if he was starting his route, and he replied that there had been some accidents due to the heavy rain and he was just heading out to refuel.
About 10 minutes later, he returned and told me I could hop on. He asked where I needed to get off - I assumed it was just to confirm I was on the correct bus. As we drove off and he took the flyover, I thought he was just avoiding flooded roads and the accidents which he had said had happened earlier.
But once I got off, I was genuinely stunned to see him make a U-turn and head straight back the way we had come. That's when I realised - he had made this entire trip just for me.
It's easy to focus on negative experiences with public transport, especially minibus and taxi drivers, but moments like this remind us there are still incredibly thoughtful and generous people out there. I am truly grateful for the driver's amazing act of kindness.
Brenda Adrian, Clear Water Bay
Suspected murder-suicide case should spark reflection
When it comes to heartbreaking news in recent days, the tragedy that occurred at the Panda Hotel in Tsuen Wan tops the list. A man with a history of depression is suspected of murdering his wife and two children before jumping to his death. The shocking news should prompt us as a society to reflect on the rising suicide rate.
A contributing factor is the stigma attached to mental health issues, especially being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. In our society, psychological suffering tends to be dismissed and the person labelled as lacking resilience. People neglect their emotional needs and bottle up their feelings instead of seeking help, sometimes resulting in mental collapse.
The sad fact is that many people lack understanding of the nature of mental disorders, which, just like physical illnesses, benefit from early intervention. If those with mental health issues were able to freely give voice to their needs and reach out to helping hands ranging from family and friends to medical professionals, their lives could take a different turn.
Moreover, there seems to be a dearth of mental health services at the community level. Hong Kong public mental health services have tended to be hospital-led, although there has been an effort to deliver services in primary care settings involving psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists and social workers.
How to best support those with serious mental illness discharged from hospital is also worth further consideration. Once people with mental disorders are discharged from hospital, the lack of adequate follow-ups would hinder the recovery process and reintegration into the community, and make the early detection of signs of relapse difficult. Without community support, the work of hospital staff would not be consolidated.
We need both an increase in community resources and a boost in public understanding of mental illnesses.
Jeffrey Lam, Tuen Mun
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