The Chinese cultural context should be taken into account and utilized when promoting equal opportunities in Hong Kong, emphasized Professor Fanny Cheung Mui-ching during her lecture at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK). 

The lecture, titled “Bridging Tradition and Progress: Leveraging Chinese Cultural Values in Equal Opportunities Initiatives,” was delivered on June 6 as part of the Visionary Wisdom: Honorary Doctorate Lecture Series, following her conferment of the Doctor of Social Science honoris causa by HSUHK.

In the dialogue moderated by Professor Jeanne Fu, Vice-President (Learning and Student Experience) at HSUHK, Professor Cheung reflected on her decades-long journey in psychology, public service, and gender advocacy. She shared valuable insights into how culture influences social science and business, and discussed ways to create social change that empowers marginalized groups, including women and people with disabilities.

Professor Cheung recounted her decision to return to Hong Kong after studying in the U.S., citing her desire to contribute to Hong Kong’s society which was still in the early stages of developing mental health services, and her difficulty integrating into the U.S.’s cultural environment.

Her early work in Kwun Tong exposed her to the harsh realities faced by women in public housing, many of whom were survivors of sexual assaults with little social support. “If they called the police, the first to arrive wouldn’t be police officers, but reporters,” Professor Cheung recalled. There were also no female therapists for these women to confide in. 

She has since initiated the “War on Rape” campaign, providing female victims with mental support, medical treatment, and evidence collection. To make it easier for Hong Kong people to accept, she chose to use “Campaign to Protect Women” as its Chinese name, for “rape” was still considered embarrassing in the local cultural environment these days.

Professor Cheung also discussed the challenges of adapting Western psychological tools for Chinese contexts. She led the translation and adaptation of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and later co-developed the Cross-cultural (Chinese) Personality Assessment Inventory (CPAI), a culturally grounded tool that provides comprehensive personality descriptions typical of Chinese culture, reflecting Chinese values such as interpersonal harmony and relational orientation.

As the founding chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission in Hong Kong from 1996 to 1999, Professor Cheung worked to implement anti-discrimination laws based on sex, family status, and disability. She has contributed to the Hong Kong community for decades by serving on government advisory and statutory bodies, as well as non-governmental organizations.

Picture credits: Orange News

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