Pedestrians wearing face masks wait to cross the road at a traffic junction in Hong Kong on Feb 12, 2020. (ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP)

HONG KONG - Two Hong Kong barristers said on Friday that they had called for a review of the Equality Opportunities Commission action of alleged discrimination against novel coronavirus patients by rejecting their complaints.  

At issue was a statement released on Tuesday by the equality watchdog which ruled that discriminatory remarks against infected police officers did not constitute vilification.

At issue was a statement released on Tuesday by the Equality Opportunities Commission which ruled that discriminatory remarks against infected police officers did not constitute vilification

The statement indicated that the EOC did not take the complaints seriously, said barrister Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, who is also a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. Leung said that such attacks would fuel hatred and other inappropriate acts in the community that target COVID-19 patients.

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Leung said that she had received a total of eight complaints of discrimination in relation to the novel coronavirus. Besides those from the police officers, complaints have also been lodged by people who have been put under home quarantine. 

Leung said they would also report to the city’s ombudsman and the Panel on Constitutional Affairs of the Legislative Council to review EOC’s procedures in handling complaints.

Barrister Josiah Chok Kin-ming, also former EOC’s chief officer, said the dismissal of the complaints by the EOC before reviewing all relevant materials appeared to have constituted a breach of due process.

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