HK equality watchdog ends inquiry into schoolboy's hair discrimination case

The Equal Opportunities Commission has ended its investigation regarding a complaint filed by a secondary school student who accused his school of disallowing male students to keep long hair, citing there is insufficient evidence to prove the move unlawful.

The student, Nathan Lam, who studies at Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Wong Fut Nam College, told local press such as HK01 that the commission decided to end its investigation after a year, citing insufficient evidence to prove the school’s move breached the Sex Discrimination Ordinance. The commission also refused to help him to provide legal aid and take the school to court, he added.

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Lam said that he would apply for legal aid and a judicial review. Meanwhile he has also reached out to leaders of the education sector and lawmakers to discuss the issue.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to the Equal Opportunities Commission for a statement. 

Back in July last year, Lam filed a complaint to the equality watchdog against the school, claiming that it breached the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, after the school allegedly told the male students to cut their long hair or face being barred from school activities or possible suspension.

Lam then uploaded a video on his Instagram, saying that he wanted to raise awareness of gender equality and emphasised that banning male students from having long hair was “unreasonable.”

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