Listen to #Hashtag Hong Kong every Sunday morning at 8.15
Focussing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.
(Sundays 8.15am - 8.25am)
As most will know, the law can be complicated, confusing and costly. In Hong Kong, 1.394 million people live at or below the poverty line and that population cannot afford to pay private lawyers’ fees.
We know from the Department of Justice’s 2008 consultancy study on the “Demand for and Supply of Legal and Related Services” that 79% of people in Hong Kong did not know what to do when faced with a legal problem and that 40% of respondents for that survey had a legal problem. Using these numbers, we estimate that the pool of disadvantaged people with a legal problem is 550,000, or thereabouts, and, of those, some 440,000 do not know where to go for help.
And so the fact is that, for HK’s poorest people, the most disadvantaged people, there is a legal access gap. The people we serve are underprivileged and are often also very vulnerable. Typical legal problems include things like family matters, employment and discrimination, education, housing, immigration, criminal matters and sometimes, personal injury, healthcare, probate and of course increasingly online scams.
They extraordinary people face significant disadvantages due to a confluence of factors: the complexity of the legal system, a lack of financial resources and education, cultural and gender access to justice barriers as well as an absence of legal and digital literacy. Language barriers can actually be a major barrier. Limited financial resources restrict people’s access to private legal representation. Lack of education and awareness about their rights further exacerbates the issue they face, making them vulnerable to exploitation and unfair treatment. There are also some systemic biases within the legal system can also disproportionately affect marginalised communities.
The government services and clinics may not always provide interpreters to non-Cantonese or non-English-speaking people, which can really complicate access to information, advice and/or representation. There are also Cultural stigmas around legal action, particularly in family or employment disputes, which can make individuals not seek help early enough, which means there is an over reliance on informal networks rather than the formal legal channels. And all these mean that even if the legal problem is settled for now, the outcome is not legally enforceable and it means thee can be even more problems further down the line. Overcoming these barriers requires comprehensive legal aid, community outreach, and also we would hope for some systemic reforms to ensure equal access to justice.
Hong Kong has limited publicly funded community legal information and advice centres. While the Department of Justice, the legal professional bodies, the Duty Lawyer Service and the Legal Aid Department provide some support, this does not cover all cases. In fact, it also only addresses cases once a person is able to identified and not everyone knows that the problem they have has a legal solution, let alone being able to name it and even to work out what to do about it.
Equal Justice fills this initial void by offering assistance in the early problem identification phases, helping with settlement to avoid stressful and costly court proceedings, linking disadvantaged people to lawyers and helping them throughout their case journey so they are supported, can understand what is going on and can navigate the system well enough to make informed decisions. And why? To ensure that they avoid any further hardship and specifically poverty.
We provide legal first aid - to disadvantaged people - who cannot afford or otherwise access the law and legal support. We empower people and communities with legal education, information, and support, to ensure that justice isn’t just a privilege for the wealthy and well-connected. We give free, face-to-face, tailored legal information and support, and and also refer cases to lawyers and counsellors. So far, we have worked on 3,000 cases, and we’re just 5 years old. Ad the people we help are 50% women, 30% children and 20% men.
When it comes to generalised legal support for Hong Kong’s disadvantaged population, organisations like Equal Justice and university clinics rely heavily on pro bono lawyers. But, demand often outstrips supply, especially for time-intensive cases like child abuse or neglect, intimate partner violence, discrimination and family disputes.
We have partnerships with 100+ amazing law firms and 54+ charities are robust but may not be able to scale given the widespread needs that we are already experienced. And our caseload has increased ~40% each year for the last 3 years, which is quite significant.
In March 2025, rather wonderfully, the HK Bar Association announced that they will be partnering with Equal Justice and 3 other NGOs more closely to bridge the community legal access gap. This is a very welcome endorsement.
September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day, established on September 10, 2003, by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Suicide is a global concern and a serious public health issue in every country. This day aims to call on governments, suicide prevention associations and agencies, local communities, healthcare workers, and volunteers to join in various local actions, collectively raising public awareness of the importance of suicide prevention and reducing suicide rates.
Most annual holidays are celebrations, but World Suicide Prevention Day evokes sadness. There is nothing to celebrate on this day; it serves as a reminder that our work is not yet done, as the number of suicides remains alarming. Nearly 700,000 people die by suicide each year worldwide, with someone taking their life every 40 seconds. According to a report from the Hong Kong Coroner's Court, there were 1,092 suicide deaths in Hong Kong in 2023, averaging 2.99 deaths per day, the highest number since 2003. The number of elderly suicides in 2022 broke the record since 1973. Although the figure in 2023 is slightly lower than in 2022, it still accounts for the largest number of suicide deaths in many years.
Elderly suicides may be related to the death of their spouses and the emigration of their children. Older individuals are less likely to seek help from hotlines or online resources, resulting in a higher proportion of suicides compared to other age groups. Youth suicides have also continued to rise in recent years, increasing from 130 cases in 2021 to 159 cases in 2023. In addition to the societal atmosphere, the high expectations placed on young people are also contributing factors to suicide. However, suicide is preventable.
The theme for World Suicide Prevention Day from 2024 to 2026 is "Changing the Narrative on Suicide," which aims to shift perceptions of suicide from a taboo subject to one that can be openly and honestly discussed, drawing greater attention to the issue. In recent years, local governments have actively strengthened suicide prevention efforts, such as removing the stigma surrounding suicide, enhancing emotional support services, and promoting the message of cherishing life. The rising suicide rates among the elderly and youth in Hong Kong are particularly concerning. The government has implemented various targeted measures, such as the "4Rs Mental Health Charter" focused on school children's mental health, to assist schools in promoting students' physical and mental well-being. Our organization has also participated in this initiative, providing immediate crisis intervention, in-depth counselling services, mental health promotion, and life education.
However, government resources may not be sufficient. Therefore, we suggest that authorities increase staffing in schools to help address the student suicide crisis and proactively reach out to the elderly to provide emotional support. We hope that the societal atmosphere will become more open regarding suicide, which can improve the current situation: parents can support their children and avoid exerting pressure. At the same time, the government should adjust the current education system to provide more opportunities for young people to develop their talents. Children can listen to and accompany their elders more, actively expressing concern. Everyone can take an extra step to walk alongside friends and family members experiencing emotional problems, alleviating their mental stress.
With technological advancements, The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong has also expanded its existing online suicide prevention services. The "ChatPoint" online chat service has increased staffing and extended service hours, allowing more individuals to seek help, particularly targeting the younger generation and those accustomed to using online channels for support, aiming to provide more appropriate assistance to reduce their risk of suicide.
As a member of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong aligns with international standards. In addition to providing a variety of suicide crisis intervention services and early life education that emphasizes the importance of cherishing life, it also assists Southeast Asia and neighbouring regions in establishing organizations with similar goals. We hope to strengthen suicide prevention efforts, allowing our experiences to support others in this critical work. We encourage all sectors of society to unite as guardians, caring for those experiencing emotional distress in the workplace, school, neighbourhood, and home. Our organization is committed to providing assistance and raising social awareness about the issue of suicide.
This morning, I'd like to dedicate " Don't Give Up " by Mia Stegner to everyone who's going through a tough time and facing challenges in their lives.