A man, Yiu Shui-Kwong paid HKD 300 (approx. RM162) to gain entrance into the Legends Club, a karaoke disco situated in busy Mongkok back in 2014. While entering the club, he noticed that women were paying cover fees which are less than half of what he paid to enjoy the same service and facilities – women were charged HKD 120 (approx. RM65).
The difference in cover charge made him mad – he felt it was unfair.
Yiu then appealed to the Equal Opportunities Commission who filed the case to the District Court last October. He accused Legend World Asia of gender discrimination because guys were required to pay more for drinks.
This may not be the first time a guy has claimed ladies’ night a discrimination of sex. In fact, similar complaints date back to the late 1990’s. But the commission revealed that this is the very first time it was taken to court, reports South China Morning Post.
Shockingly, as the respondent Legend World Asia Group had failed to show up in court and did not present any prior notice of the absence, District judge Justin Ko King-Sau ruled in favor of Hong Kong’s equal opportunities watchdog’s appeal over ladies’ night pricing.
Seeing a window of opportunity, Yiu quickly changed his case from claiming a breach in the Sex Discrimination Ordinance to requesting a compensation of HKD 50,000 (approx RM27,000) from the club for INJURING HIS FEELINGS. There are no words…
It was later found that despite having to pay more, Yiu spent 4 hours partying at the club enjoying free drinks, playing darts, singing karaoke, and dancing.
Appalled by his audacity, judge Ko recently rejected his appeal and wrote it would be “absurd” that he would receive a “windfall” as much as HKD 50,000. The judge also stated, “I do not regard [Yiu] as a true ‘victim’ of the respondent’s discrimination. He obtained what he had bargained for in terms of the enjoyment.”
The judge also wrote that Yiu’s “injured feelings” had ‘nothing to do with the treatment he received’ that day at Legends Club. Drinking and clubbing in Hong Kong can be an expensive luxury. A bottle of beer would averagely cost you HKD 70 (approx. RM38).
It is hard to believe that anyone would challenge the concept of Ladies’ Night, a marketing strategy that is practiced globally. Just sounds like a cheap shot to make some quick bucks. No pun intended.
