A 2016 survey projected that sexual or gender minorities made up to 400,000 in Hong Kong2, representing roughly 5% of the local population at that time and still counting. Debates about gender have steadily been introduced into the collective consciousness of this metropolis, and how to acclimate to a shift of awareness is not just an abstraction, but a pressing reality sometimes with legal ramifications that must be addressed. ‘The conversation about gender is particularly relevant now as we have a growing transgender population on campus. This is a phenomenon recognised in higher education institutions worldwide,’ said Dr Kendrick Shih, Director of Student Affairs at HKUMed. ‘This has led us to re-consider communicating with our students in a gender-neutral fashion. We also identified a need to have gender-inclusive facilities in our learning campus and halls,’ Dr Shih stated. To tackle this issue, HKUMed adopts a pragmatic and moderate approach in gender inclusivity, promoting a gradual process of adaptation and fine-tuning. The Faculty acknowledges its obligation to accommodate the needs of gender minorities and recognise their identity to cultivate ~5% of local population was projected to be sexual or gender minorities in 2016 香港性小眾佔2016年 本地人口比例推算 FEATURE + Promoting Empathy on Campus — HKUMed’s Measures in Gender Inclusiveness HKUMed is making another leap forward in the new academic year by launching several gender-inclusive initiatives, designed not only to recognise the presence of a rising sexual and gender minorities1 but, more importantly, to promote mutual respect and inclusivity of diversities on campus, because each one of us is different in one way or another. 28
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