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An Overview of the Provision of Public Transport for People with Disabilities in Hong Kong

Before the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO) in 1995, disabilities discrimination in Hong Kong was largely unchecked. To promote disability equality, the Hong Kong SAR Government published in 1995 a White Paper on “Rehabilitation – Equal Opportunities and Full Integration: A Better Tomorrow for All.” The DOO, together with Sex Discrimination Ordinance (SDO), the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance (FSDO) and the Race Discrimination Ordinance (RDO) enacted, have given Government agencies in Hong Kong the responsibility of implementing the Government policies to eliminate the various types of discrimination, including discrimination against people with disabilities. The Transport Department of Hong Kong is the lead government agency responsible for implementation the Government policy of developing a transport system meeting the needs of people with disabilities. There are two policy objectives for protection of people with disability under the 1995 Hong Kong SAR Government White Paper. They are “The development of a barrier-free physical environment, which permits access to all buildings and facilities for all people with a disability” and “The development of a transport system, which includes provisions to meet the needs of people with a disability so as to enhance their ability to move around at will in society and to facilitate their full participation and integration into the community.” Protection of disability equality has since been made a priority duty of the Government and the Public Transport Operators (PTOs). All government agencies, particularly the Transport Department, are obliged to plan for inclusive services for the community, including those with disabilities. Apart from the Transport Department, a number of Government agencies in Hong Kong also owe a legal responsibility under the Discrimination Ordinance to coordinate measures for protection of people with disabilities. These Government agencies include the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Transport and Housing Bureau, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Social Welfare Department. The Transport Department of Hong Kong has rightly aimed for making the public transport services accessible to people with disabilities on an equal basis with focus placed on the strategy of encouraging the PTOs to deliver better services that promote fairness and opportunity for all citizens. For the last 10 years or so the Transport Department has shown good commitment to make transport more accessible to people with disabilities. However more remain to be done to make the best possible use of resources that PTOs will invest for improvement of transport accessibility for all in future. There exist the continuous need to involve not only the PTOs, but also the disability population and even the community to realize the vision of providing accessible transport for all. Only where efforts of all are consolidated can the issue of disability equality in relation to public transport services be addressed.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: References;
  • Pagination: 10p
  • Monograph Title: TRANSED 2010: 12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons, June 1-4, 2010

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01360764
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jan 25 2012 11:57AM