logo
Facing racial discrimination in Hong Kong? Here's what you need to know

Facing racial discrimination in Hong Kong? Here's what you need to know

A former HSBC employee last week sued the bank for alleged racial discrimination, maintaining that he was ultimately sacked, among other instances of mistreatment, because of his black heritage, bringing the topic into the media spotlight.
Advertisement
Former senior business analyst Robert Ngugi Tomkinson claimed an unspecified amount of damages for reputational damage, emotional distress and financial loss from HSBC Global Services (Hong Kong), with the legal action under the Race Discrimination Ordinance to commence at the District Court on Friday.
The Post breaks down what sort of protections Hong Kong offers against racial discrimination and looks at the challenges of trying to prove race-related unfair treatment.
1. What is the basis for Tomkinson's lawsuit?
According to the writ, Tomkinson became the subject of 'sustained and differential treatment' after the arrival of a new manager in April 2024, prompting him to file a formal internal complaint five months later.
In the writ, he alleged that he faced a bonus reduction, poor performance review and an early redundancy due to discrimination.
An earlier internal investigation by the bank partially upheld Tomkinson's complaint after finding his manager had acted 'inappropriately', including disclosing his performance status to irrelevant third parties.
Advertisement
But the bank had said the probe also did not find signs of racial discrimination.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Chinese military blacklists aerospace institute over bid rigging
Chinese military blacklists aerospace institute over bid rigging

South China Morning Post

time2 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Chinese military blacklists aerospace institute over bid rigging

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has barred a Chinese aerospace institute from bidding on tenders amid claims of bid rigging – the latest suspension in a year-long crackdown on military suppliers. In a notice on Thursday, the PLA's procurement oversight department said the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) was suspended from taking part in military procurement for goods, projects, and services. The notice said the suspension was a penalty for bid rigging and collusion, but did not say how long the ban would last. The institute was also put on a military procurement suspension list in January, disqualifying its joint bid with Tsinghua University for a 150 million yuan (US$21 million) project. Details of the projects were classified but other bidders included the CAS Shanghai Advanced Research Institute and China Electronics System Engineering Company, suggesting the tender was for communications infrastructure. The aerospace institute was formed in 2019 through a merger of CAS institutes specialising in electronics, remote sensing and optoelectronics. It carries out core research in communication and information processing, aircraft design, remote sensing radar systems and electronic countermeasure systems – areas closely aligned with military needs.

Alibaba previews its first AI-powered glasses, joining China's heated smart wearable race
Alibaba previews its first AI-powered glasses, joining China's heated smart wearable race

South China Morning Post

time2 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Alibaba previews its first AI-powered glasses, joining China's heated smart wearable race

Alibaba Group Holding has entered the fierce smart glasses race in China, previewing its first pair of AI-powered glasses at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai – the country's largest annual AI event. The Quark AI glasses, named after Alibaba's AI assistant, were showcased to the public for the first time at the event on Saturday. The company said it had completed development of the product and was aiming for an official launch this year, although no specific date was provided. This marks Alibaba's debut in the smart glasses market, which has seen heightened local competition as domestic firms like Rokid and Xreal have rushed to release new products in recent months. Alibaba, owner of the Post, also struck a partnership with augmented reality glasses maker RayNeo earlier this year to provide AI support for the Hong Kong-based company's products. 'AI glasses will become the most important form of wearable intelligence – it will serve as another pair of eyes and ears for humans,' said Song Gang, head of smart terminal business at Alibaba's Intelligent Information business group, during a sub-forum. The move by the Hangzhou-based tech giant is part of a broader strategy to enhance its AI offerings. In February, Alibaba committed to investing US$53 billion in AI infrastructure over the next three years. Alibaba is doubling down on its investments into AI software and hardware. Photo: AP

How did a chocolate pie offend middle-class sensibilities of Sam's Club members in China?
How did a chocolate pie offend middle-class sensibilities of Sam's Club members in China?

South China Morning Post

time3 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

How did a chocolate pie offend middle-class sensibilities of Sam's Club members in China?

Sam's Club, the US membership-only bulk retailer owned by Walmart, has long been seen as one of the foreign supermarkets most attuned to the needs of China's middle class. Each year, millions of urban Chinese families pay a 260 yuan (US$36.28) annual fee in exchange for what they see as access to a globally curated, quality lifestyle - featuring products like Scotch whisky, Chilean dried prunes, and chilled beef from the United States and Australia. That selection has come to symbolise a middle-class sensibility attuned to globally focused consumption. But that premium image was shaken recently when Sam's Club stores in China began stocking a domestically made chocolate pie - priced at 49.9 yuan for a pack of 48 – touching a nerve among its loyal membership base. Well-known for its low price, the pie in question is often found in neighbourhood convenience stores or corner shops in China. But it falls short of what many health-conscious, quality-driven Chinese middle-class shoppers consider 'decent' or 'premium'. Wendy Liu, a Shenzhen-based operations director at a foreign firm and a Sam's Club premium member who pays 600 yuan a year for the privilege, said her trust in the brand was eroding. 'This chocolate pie is just the trigger,' she said. 'The real concern is that Sam's standards for supplier quality may be slipping.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store