30 May 2013
Issue 79
30 May 2013
Issue 79
Recently, there has been much media coverage over the results of the global World Values Survey, which seemed to indicate that Hong Kong was the most racially intolerant of all the places surveyed. It has now been revealed that the data was wrong. In an op-ed to the South China Morning Post published on 25 May 2013, Dr. York CHOW Yat-Ngok, the EOC Chairperson, argued that while we can breathe a sigh of relief that Hong Kong is not the most racist society in the world, we also can still do far better to eradicate racial bias and discrimination. He urged the Government to address the issue systemically, starting with providing equal education opportunity for ethnic minority students. “What we need is a multi-pronged, holistic approach to a systemic problem. The government must take the lead to address the issue with conviction, based on the recognition that true equality may require accommodative measures to level the playing field,” wrote Dr. Chow.
Read the full article
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On 19 May 2013, Dr. John TSE Wing-ling, the Convenor of the EOC’s Policy and Research Committee, represented the Commission at RTHK’s City Forum to discuss the right of transsexuals to marriage. Dr. Tse reiterated the EOC’s support of the Court of Final Appeal’s decision in the “W” case as well as the Commission’s appeal to the Government to consider amending the Marriage Ordinance to enable transsexuals to have the right to marry. The EOC believes that all transgender individuals, whether or not they have undergone surgery, should be respected for their gender identification. The Government should enable transgender individuals to access the full range of their legal rights in their adopted gender. Many transgender individuals continue to face enormous social pressure and struggle to live free from harassment because of their gender identity. The EOC calls for more public understanding and dialogue in order to remove stigma and misunderstanding about diverse gender identities and to facilitate the end of discrimination and prejudice against transgender persons.
City Forum
Read the EOC’s press release in response to the CFA Ruling on the “W” case
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On 20 May 2013, Dr. Ferrick Chu, Head of Policy and Research of the EOC, attended the Legislative Council Panel on Constitutional Affairs to share the Commission’s views on the Concluding Observations adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in its 107th session in March 2013 after considering the Third Report of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in light of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The EOC urged the Government to take action to address a number of issues, including the current gap in the protection of the Race Discrimination Ordinance, provision of equal education opportunity for ethnic minority students, mental health policy, and outlawing discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation.
Read the EOC’s Submission to the Legislative Council Panel on Constitutional Affairs
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On 15 May 2013, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and the Family Council co-organised the Family Summit 2013 to support families in Hong Kong in facing various challenges and to draw attention to the role of different stakeholders. As one of the panel speakers, the EOC Chairperson, Dr. York CHOW Yat-Ngok, shared his views on the topic of “Balancing commitment at work and family responsibilities: Challenges and Opportunities.” He urged more support for families to help them tackle the challenge of balancing work and life demands, including family-friendly measures, and argued that such initiatives would help to recruit and retain talent.
Learn more about the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance
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To encourage barrier-free access for all, including in the access to services and the arts by people with disability, the EOC will be offering a seminar on the topic on 31 May 2013. The training will feature information on the relevant provisions under the anti-discrimination ordinances, the findings of the EOC’s Formal Investigation on Accessibility to Publicly Accessible Premises, and common examples of inaccessible premises and facilities. In addition, speakers from the Hong Kong Guide Dog Association, the Otic Foundation, and the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong will share their experiences and tips on practical ways to implement accessible services. Please see below for more details, or call 2106-2155 to enrol.
| Date: | 31 May 2013 (Friday) |
| Time: | 2:00 – 5:30pm |
| Venue: | Conference Room, Equal Opportunities Commission 19/F Cityplaza Three, 14 Taikoo Wan Rd, Taikoo Shing |
| *This workshop will be conducted in Cantonese | |
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Stay updated on the EOC's work and positions by referring to our press releases, speeches, media interviews, and calendar training on our website. Also, stay tuned on other equal opportunities issues and community initiatives by visiting our community resources and community events pages for information from our community partners, including publications, survey reports, publicity campaigns, and upcoming conferences.