Naysayers allege that marriage equality would tear society apart. If this was true, we would have seen it happen in those places where same-sex marriage is legal.
During the UN review of China’s human rights record in 2018-2019, China accepted several recommendations about the non-discrimination of LGBTQ people. Therefore, it would be absurd to suggest advancing the dignity and equality of same-sex couples would endanger national security.
Furthermore, the argument about defending traditional Chinese culture is a red herring. In Hong Kong, Chinese customary marriages were legal until 1971, and traditional Chinese marriages were anything but monogamous.
Same-sex couples are simply seeking access to the institution of marriage that is available to other committed opposite-sex couples – and for the same mix of reasons, from affirming their love and commitment to providing security and protections for their family.
It would be a real disservice to our society if we allow demeaning and divisive rhetoric to go unchecked. Let’s start working together to build a loving and fair society for all.
Jerome Yau, Happy Valley
Blame rail construction for art hub’s cost overruns
It is the Highways Department which should compensate the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority for the additional construction costs, as well as for the losses in revenue incurred because of the delays.
As members of the Express Rail Expert Group of the Professional Commons, my colleagues and I made great efforts in 2009 and 2010 to convince the government to place the express rail station near Kam Sheung Road, anticipating the development of the region as the future Northern Metropolis. Not only would it have reduced the cost of the express rail by at least HK$25 billion (US$3.2 billion), it would have avoided undermining the cultural district.
Now government must step up and dip into its capital works reserves to fully compensate the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority for the delays and additional costs.
Paul Zimmerman, CEO, Designing Hong Kong
Why not tackle low take-up of student health checks?
To bolster attendance among secondary students, the Department of Health should consider extending to them the shuttle bus service that it provides for primary students. Additionally, the department could explore the feasibility of dispatching medical professionals to schools instead of requiring students to travel to the clinics. This might also help raise attendance rates.
The online platform for the Student Health Service, which enables parents to reschedule appointments and access health reports, could also be improved. Currently, only 51.6 per cent of enrolled primary and secondary students are registered on this platform. To enhance its utility, the department should integrate this platform with the eHealth record-sharing system, allowing both patients and doctors to access comprehensive health records for more effective health management.
Kirk Yu and Fiona Chan, Kowloon Tong
