Equality watchdog ends investigation into secondary school boy’s hair discrimination case

The Equal Opportunities Commission that received a complaint from a secondary school student who refused to obey his school rule on hair has ended its investigation citing insufficient evidence to prove the move unlawful.

Nathan Lam Chak-chun, a student at Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Wong Fut Nam College, filed a complaint with the watchdog in July last year accusing his school of violating the Sex Discrimination Ordinance and ignoring issues relating to gender dysphoria, after he was forced to have his hair cut to avoid being suspended from school.

Read more: Form five student files complaint to equality watchdog over hair discrimination

Lam told reporters today that the Commission decided to end its investigation after a year, citing insufficient evidence to prove the school’s move unlawful. The Commission also refused to help him to take the school to court.

The form six student said he is currently applying for legal aid and will apply for a judicial review at a Hong Kong court, with results coming within a month or two.

He also said he has reached out to leaders of the education sector and lawmakers to hopefully open up dialogues over the issue.

Meanwhile, Lam, also one of this year’s HKDSE students, said his exam results fell short of his expectations, and is a few marks away from making it into CUHK’s Faculty of Social Science.

He said the hair discrimination case has more or less affected his progress in preparing for the exams, and he felt helpless with both his school and the Equal Opportunities Commission hitting back at his accusations.