Friday, January 18, 2013 A17 Vile attitudes The challenge ahead Annie Chan says for all the progress Hong Kong women have made, our culture continues to see them as Joseph Cheng says the policy directions laid out sexual objects and stigmatise rape by Leung will not gain traction without support from Legco and the public, and that is currently he gang rape and subsequent death of the 23- year-old student in New Delhi last month in short supply in our fractious society Tsparked large-scale protests in India and outrage elsewhere. The widespread discrimination and violence against women and girls in India, the hief Executive Leung Chun- world’s largest democracy with a growing economy, ying’s first policy address was is appalling. a crucial moment for his In Hong Kong, we tend to assume violence against administration, which didn’t women is not a serious problem, as we often hear have the benefit of a “honey- officials boasting about the narrowing of the gender Cmoon” period as a result of the scandals gap in employment, pay, and social and political that have plagued its first six months. participation. In the first 10 months of last year, 101 Leung certainly hopes that this will con- cases of rape were recorded by the police. Surveys of vince the community to give him a chance the victims of crime, who do not all report the crime, to do a good job. indicate a different picture. A survey of crime and its His most significant asset is that the victims in 2005 by the Census and Statistics government has ample financial resources Department shows that indecent assault and to implement policy reforms. If Hong blackmail were two of the most under-reported Kong people support the proposals, as is crimes (no cases of rape were reported in this survey, the case for 15 years of free education, few which in itself is telling). critics can say that the community cannot A survey by the Association for the Advancement afford them. of Feminism in the same year found that 15 per cent During his election campaign, Leung’s of the women respondents had had sexual obvious edge over his main rival Henry intercourse against their will and 45 per cent had Tang Ying-yen was his reformist orienta- suffered indecent assault. Only 5 per cent of the 4,000 tion; and, at the current stage of Hong cases of sexual assault handled by concern group Kong’s development, people want to see RainLily over the past two years have been reported serious reform to enhance the economy’s to the police. In a culture that stigmatises rape victims international competitiveness and im- as “damaged goods” and thinks a woman must have prove social services so as to raise their done something to “deserve” being attacked, in the living standards. way she dressed or behaved, or was simply in the Doubts about his integrity remain wrong place at the wrong time, it is little wonder that Leung’s major liability. His popularity hit a victims hesitate to report the crime. new low just before the policy address, and Rape is unlike other violent crime. In some his illegal construction scandals have not cultures, its victims suffer the stigma of “sexual been settled. A substantial segment of the contamination”, which has serious implications for pro-democracy movement is now asking the woman’s future. It is common practice for for him to step down. Yet, with the backing defending lawyers to call upon the victim’s sexual of the Chinese authorities, this is quite in- history and relationship with the accused as a means conceivable, at least in the coming two Hong Kong people. Hence the policy up with more proposals in various impor- for the administration to efficiently steer of establishing consent to sexual intercourse. This years or so, because of Beijing’s concern address is unlikely to do much to raise tant policy areas down the road. many measures through the council. puts pressure on the victims who seek justice after for the special administrative region’s Leung’s popularity. In short, he has the advantage of occu- Arriving at a consensus at the community their ordeal. political stability, its unwillingness to lose Take the example of housing. Leung pying the floor and holding the initiative. level won’t be easy, either. Basically, the The lack of sensitivity towards the victim during face since the chief executive was appoin- promised to increase land supply as well as The budget will be announced in the administration has to maintain solidarity trial (for example, in Hong Kong, testifying behind a ted by Chinese leaders, and the absence of that of public housing and home-owner- coming month, and this time the financial within the establishment; and when it screen is an arrangement that is subject to the judge’s a “Plan B” for the time being. ship flats, and set out the policy measures secretary will be able to distribute “sweet- encounters challenges, it will be tempted approval) is another reason that reporting rates In view of the high expectations on the to achieve them. He was careful to offer eners” as usual. to seek the help of Beijing and the central remain low. part of the people and the administration some short-term relief measures, which Since Leung has indicated that he in- government’s liaison office. Fantasies about rape are also commonplace, itself, it was always going to be difficult for are not new; and is ready to blame his pre- tends to maintain a balanced budget and The administration, and in fact the perpetuated as much by mainstream media as by the Leung to score high marks for his policy decessor for existing inadequacies. Yet it is apparently is not prepared to use the city’s people of Hong Kong, need a favourable pornography industry. One example was some address. clear that housing supply will not increase fiscal reserves to enhance its economic political environment to be able to focus viewers’ keen anticipation, fuelled by the mass It had to be comprehensive, because significantly in the next two years. competitiveness or welfare benefits for the on the many policy proposals outlined in media, of rape scenes featured in a number of people want to see a policy blueprint for Leung can, however, rely on the likes of community, the disposable resources at the policy address. Yet, there are likely to television dramas recently aired on TVB. In one the next five, if not 10, years; and it had to the Long Term Housing Strategy Steering hand for the government and what it can be many confrontations that divert atten- episode, viewers complained about how the much- deliver a long-term vision as well as Committee, the soon-to-be established do become much more limited. tion in the coming months, given the publicised rape scene was too short, failing to live up effective short-term measures. Given all Economic Development Commission, The enhanced subsidy offered to administration’s recent request to Hong to expectations. the circumstances, the administration and the Commission on Poverty to come replace old, polluting diesel commercial Kong’s top court to consider asking the It is the “normalisation” of women as sexual cannot claim to have carried out adequate vehicles reveals the style of the Leung Standing Committee of the National objects and the regular presentation of women’s consultation; and it can easily be criticised administration. There is no consultation, People’s Congress to interpret the Basic bodies as being “up for grabs” that underlie such for what has been left unsaid. which is necessary if we are to have a Law – and the upcoming political reform repellent attitudes towards rape. We must condemn On the other hand, the chief executive comprehensive long-term policy for envi- discussions in anticipation of the 2017 cultural attitudes that encourage us to see rape as managed to offer a good analysis of Hong ronmental protection. Moreover, while chief executive election and the 2016 and trivial, as entertainment. Kong’s deep-seated socio-economic Leung offered big businesses may also benefit, small 2020 Legco elections. problems and satisfactory broad policy satisfactory broad businesses in general feel they have been Leung may have passed the policy ad- Annie Chan Hau-nung is chairperson of the Association directions to tackle these issues. This is an adversely affected. dress test, but the really tough challenges for the Advancement of Feminism, and an associate improvement over the complacency and policy directions Is the community willing to give him a are still to come. professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Policy inaction of the Donald Tsang Yam-kuen to tackle our chance to deliver these reforms? In view of at Lingnan University. This article is part of a series on administration. But such insights do not the increasing number of confrontations Joseph Cheng Yu-shek is a professor of political women and gender issues, developed in collaboration translate to immediate, visible benefit to deep-seated problems in the Legislative Council, it will be difficult science at City University of Hong Kong with The Women’s Foundation Uninspired address should disappoint Vision in short supply, but even the chief executive’s supporters Leung delivers on housing hief Executive Leung Albert Cheng says his housing policy is no different from that of Lau Nai-keung say an attitude of ‘making do’ won’t serve Hong Kong Chun-ying survived the Tsang. Cbid at the Legislative policies were nothing new, and Leung’s proposal to expedite Council last week to impeach proposals to alleviate poverty were pre-sale approval applications t seems to me that our chief feuds and strive for results, Hong legitimacy hinges on his ability him, but the attempt was a for incomplete flats to meet executive has a hard time Kong will be able to sustain its to solve our housing problems, historic first.