Hong Kong Inclusion Index 2024

Date: 28/11/2024

Hong Kong Inclusion Index 2024: Inclusion in Hong Kong Rated as 'Average'

• Males feel less included in society.

• 'Healthcare' and 'Housing' scored highest while 'Employment' and 'Education' scored lowest.

 

A survey found that Hong Kong's Inclusion Index was 69.44, with groups such as males, South Asians, and residents of subdivided flats perceiving society as less inclusive. Building a caring and inclusive society is a priority for the Hong Kong government, but there has been no comprehensive assessment of inclusion status in the past. Since its establishment in 1952, Hong Kong Christian Service (HKCS) has been promoting inclusion through various social services under the mission of 'Promoting Harmony'. HKCS developed an 'Inclusion Scale' based on academic research and service experience and launched Hong Kong's first 'Inclusion Index' this year, covering eight key areas: Employment, Leisure, Housing, Family life, Social Life, Education, Healthcare, Culture and Diversity. The results showed that 'Healthcare' and 'Housing' are the most inclusive, while 'Employment' and 'Education' are the least inclusive.

 

The survey was conducted between May and June this year through random telephone interviews, online surveys, and physical questionnaires, successfully interviewing 1,026 individuals. The gender ratio of respondents was approximately equal, with age distribution spanning from 12 and above. In terms of ethnicity, 93.7% of respondents were Chinese, with other ethnicities including Pakistanis (2.9%) and Indians (2.1%). Regarding housing types, 40.9% of respondents lived in privately owned properties, with 1.0% living in subdivided flats and 0.7% being homeless.

 

Overall Inclusion Status Average, and Nearly Two in Ten Experienced Discrimination

The Hong Kong Inclusion Index for 2024 showed individual area scores ranging from 60 to 77, with the most inclusive sectors being 'Healthcare' (77.08) and 'Housing' (74.23). HKCS stated that the government has invested considerable resources in 'Healthcare' and 'Housing' in recent years, such as developing primary healthcare and implementing transitional housing projects. These initiatives have been effective in promoting social inclusion. Notably, residents of subdivided flats scored only 58.67 on the inclusion index, which was even lower than the homeless' score of 63.99 and the lowest among all housing types.

 

'Education' received a score of 60.59, making it the least inclusive area. HKCS indicated that while recent educational policies had included various measures to promote inclusion, many are target-based, such as assisting students in completing examinations, without fully supporting students' developmental needs. Additionally, these measures lacked transparency. Many parents and students in need were unaware of the available support.

 

Area	Score (Full: 100)	Rating*
Healthcare	77.08	Average
Housing	74.23
Leisure	71.47
Culture and Diversity	70.97
Family Life	69.95
Social Life	68.61
Employment	65.74
Education	60.59
Overall	69.44
*80-100 is classified as 'good'; 60-79 is classified as 'average'; 40-59 is classified as 'low'; 20-39 is classified as 'poor'

 

Additionally, the survey explored whether respondents experienced discrimination due to personal characteristics. Findings showed that respondents experienced an average of 1.1 instances of discrimination or unfriendly treatment in the past year. 17.4% reported experiencing indirect discrimination, while 12.7% faced direct discrimination.

 

'Employment' Became a Pain Point, South Asians Faced More Discrimination

By ethnicity, South Asians scored 67.22 on the inclusion index, lower than the score for Chinese respondents at 69.67. In 'Employment', South Asians scored only 57.20 points. Furthermore, South Asians reported experiencing an average of 3.4 instances of discrimination or unfriendly treatment over the past year, significantly higher than Chinese respondents, who reported an average of 1.0 instances. HKCS stated that negative perceptions towards ethnic minorities persisted within society, including among employers. Even when some employers intended to hire South Asians, they faced difficulties such as a lack of recruitment channels and language barriers.

 

Gender Stereotyping in Family Life Amid Insufficient Social Services

In terms of gender, males had an inclusion score of 68.3, lower than females at 70.68, and scored lower than females in all areas, with the most significant gap observed in 'Family Life'. Furthermore, males reported an average of 1.2 instances of discrimination or unfriendly treatment over the past year compared to females' average of 1.0 instances. HKCS believed that social stereotypes on male family roles created challenges for acceptance of 'stay-at-home dads', while current social services tended to favour females, making it more difficult for males to access these services without feeling pressured.

 

Mr Wong, a single father with a chronic illness taking care of his seven-year-old daughter alone, previously used services from HKCS's Choi Wan Early Education & Training Centre. He expressed that gender stereotypes placed invisible pressure on him as a 'single stay-at-home dad', leading to comments such as men being careless or unable to handle tasks like changing diapers or feeding; being questioned about why he does not have a wife accompanying him when out with his daughter; and facing criticism for not having a full-time job contributing to society. These pressures had even led to suicidal thoughts. 'Regardless of gender, everyone in society can be a carer,' Mr Wong said, 'Compared to women, men sometimes have more reservations about seeking help, beyond changing traditional mindsets, I hope social services can also consider how individuals from different genders express their needs.'

 

Recommendations

Based on the survey results, Hong Kong Christian Service makes the following recommendations:

1. Review Inclusive Education to Strengthen Individualised Learning and Development Support

• Enhance collaboration among the Education Bureau, Social Welfare Department, Department of Health, and Hospital Authority to assist schools in developing more appropriate support based on students’ actual needs.
• Increase transparency regarding support policies so that parents and stakeholders understand how schools allocate resources and regularly collect feedback from students and parents through school-based participation platforms.
• Actively promote more diverse life development services that focus on students’ unique needs and strengths while flexibly adjusting applied learning methods.

 

2. Promote an Inclusive Work Culture to Support Ethnic Minorities

• The government should lead efforts to establish an inclusive work culture by providing bilingual recruitment information, enhancing employees' awareness of multiculturalism, and continuously supporting ethnic minority employees.
• The Government, business sectors, and different organisations could provide trial work or internship opportunities for ethnic minorities to foster mutual understanding.

 

3. Respect Males' Role Choices, Advocate for a 'Carer-Centric' Concept

• Encourage the public to understand and respect males' choices regarding family life.
• Address males' potential service needs by promoting more gender-diverse social services, for example, establishing dedicated hotlines for males that consider expressions of needs of different genders.
• Strengthen the promotion of a 'carer-centric' approach that supports carers' needs and provides respite opportunities to share caring responsibilities between society and carers.

 

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Don CHENG, Assistant Manager (Public Relations) (Tel: 2731 6263)