Hong Kong teen challenging school ban on long hair for boys may take legal action after ‘unsatisfactory’ mediation with principal
- Nathan Lam says school’s proposal did not meet her expectations and the two sides ‘remain divided’
- The 17-year-old says mediation has been prolonged process and she was not optimistic matter can be resolved before she graduates next year
A teenager in Hong Kong who claims to experience gender dysphoria has not ruled out taking legal action against her school’s long hair ban for male students, after finding the first conciliation session arranged by the city’s equality watchdog “unsatisfactory”.
Nathan Lam Chak-chun, who prefers to be referred to using the “she” and “her” pronouns, attended a two-hour mediation meeting with the principal of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Wong Fut Nam College in Kowloon Tong on Thursday. The 17-year-old, who was accompanied by her mother, said she did not feel the session arranged by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) was helpful.
“The meeting was not to my expectations … I can only say I am dissatisfied with the school’s proposal,” she said, but stopped short of providing further details citing confidentiality of the session. “Our opinions remain divided.”
In it, she revealed she was challenging her school’s ban on long hair for male students, calling the rule “unreasonable and outdated” and said it violated the Sex Discrimination Ordinance.
