People with disabilities have long struggled to find broad acceptance in Hong Kong society. While the city has made strides in supporting and appreciating the achievements of its para-sports athletes, it still falls short in providing daily accessibility, employment opportunities and adequate social safety to many disabled Hongkongers.

The city’s equality watchdog recently received complaints about firings linked to suspected disability discrimination. Such cases have more than doubled in the past five years, with concern groups attributing the rise to corporate restructuring and widespread lay-offs amid the economic downturn. Figures from the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) show there were 490 complaints of alleged disability discrimination related to employment last year, up 72 per cent from 2021.

An EOC spokesman said the increase could be related to greater public awareness and reporting of discrimination, but a local charity that helps hearing-impaired people linked the trend to the economy. Silence founder Tsan Siu Yat-chan said people with disabilities, who might struggle to handle multiple tasks at once, often bore the brunt of corporate cost-cutting.

Others have pointed to the Work Orientation and Placement Scheme offering employers who hired people with disabilities a nine-month government subsidy. One worker said he was fired just as the subsidised period ended. The alarming spike could be only the tip of the iceberg of systemic discrimination.

Siu called on the government to increase subsidies that encourage employers to keep staff with disabilities. It could also better support people with disabilities in starting their own businesses. Other communities have introduced job coaching schemes for employees with disabilities. The Social Welfare Department could also shift subsidies to encourage long-term retention.

Athletes with disabilities have earned admiration and praise for their performance at the highest level. Better inclusion of workers with disabilities can help ensure they are respected as important community members and an economic asset rather than a burden.