'Many Religious Sites Not Friendly To Disabled'

A concern group which looked into various religious spots dotted across Hong Kong said on Tuesday that a majority of these venues do not have facilities that will help people with disabilities.

The Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth inspected 30 temples, churches and monasteries and found that steps or steep slopes are often the only access ways to these places.

The federation's executive director David Lau said one of the reasons is that many religious venues are historic structures and are located in relatively remote places. But he says more can be done and his federation has compiled a guide on how to make these worshipping venues friendlier to people with disabilities.

He said even in places which had facilities, the users found it difficult to get access to them. Lau recalled examples of toilet facilities for the disabled being used as store rooms in some places.

"Some of the disabled toilets are locked up and you need to find somebody to open it," he said.

Lau told RTHK's Joanne Wong that people at the venues should also be given some training in meeting the needs of disabled people.