On 20 February 2014, the EOC announced the findings of the “Sexual Harassment and Discrimination – Questionnaire Survey for Flight Attendants”, which was conducted in partnership with the Hong Kong Flight Attendants Alliance (HKFAA) from late November 2013 to early January 2014. The survey revealed that 27% of the respondents had been sexually harassed when they were on duty in-flight in the last 12 months, while about 47% indicated that they had either witnessed or heard about their colleagues being sexually harassed in-flight. Moreover, the survey found that sexual harassment of flight attendants by customers (59%) was significantly more prevalent than sexual harassment by their fellow staff (41%). Convenor of the EOC’s Policy and Research Committee, Dr. John TSE Wing-ling, noted that, “As evidenced in the survey, service providers can be especially vulnerable to sexual harassment by a customer or client in the course of provision of goods and services. However, there is currently no legal provision protecting providers of goods, services and facilities against sexual harassment by their customers.” The EOC has long recommended legislative amendments be put in place to address this loophole, and looks forward to seeing the amendments - which are already agreed to by the Government - promptly enacted.

Read the press release
Read the summary of survey findings
News highlights

On 20 February 2014, the EOC issued a statement expressing serious concern that some mainland Chinese tourists were harassed and vilified by the protesters in a rally in Tsim Sha Tsui on the previous Sunday (16 February 2014). Dr. York CHOW Yat-ngok, Chairperson of the EOC, said, “The EOC condemns the uncivilized behaviour of the protesters to insult and humiliate tourists, who have every right to be here. We are very concerned that the protesters’ actions of using contemptuous and vilifying remarks may further heighten social tensions and damage Hong Kong’s image as a pluralistic and friendly city. These actions are destructive to social inclusion and the basic core values of our society.” The EOC has been monitoring the incidents and attempting to collect relevant facts and details. We note that, as part of the EOC’s Discrimination Law Review, we are considering whether new categories of protection should be introduced to respond to possible discrimination between people from Hong Kong and mainland China. While the EOC respects people’s rights to express their opinions and to demonstrate peacefully, we urge members of the public to refrain from exercising such rights in a way that would cause an unreasonable and unacceptable interference to the rights or interests of others.

Read the press release
News highlights

Do you know what barriers people with disability encounter in accessing services? Can an employer be held legally accountable if sexual harassment occurs at work? The EOC’s Calendar Training for Spring 2014 (March to June 2014) is now available for employers, human resource practitioners, and members of the public to learn about all these and other discrimination issues. Among the current offerings are “The Commission and the Ordinances”, introducing the anti-discrimination laws in Hong Kong and the work of the EOC; the “Access for All” workshop, featuring a dialogue with people with disability and various organisations with experiences in promoting accessibility; and training on “Preventing and Managing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace”. Other programmes popular among human resource practitioners include “Managing Recruitment and Selection Processes” and “Managing Complaints in the Workplace”. Click on the link below to learn more and enrol on these courses.

Details

With due regard to the recent abuse of a foreign domestic worker by her employer, which has attracted extensive media attention and shaken public sentiments in Hong Kong, the EOC will be expanding its outreach initiatives for foreign domestic workers and their employers. Through roving exhibitions, visits and other activities, the EOC will target farther districts, where foreign domestic workers residing in these areas may not be able to readily access information and resources. The EOC will also continue our training on rights under the anti-discrimination ordinances to foreign domestic workers, as well as our cooperation with the consular corps, migrant workers’ unions and other related organisations to spread awareness about this particularly vulnerable group’s protection under the law. The Commission has all along advocated for equal treatment and fairness for all, and unequivocally condemns any abusive treatment. The EOC also encourages those who face discriminatory treatment in relation to characteristics such as their race, sex or disability, as well as sexual harassment, to speak up and lodge their case with the Commission. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and work with relevant stakeholders to raise public understanding on this issue.

A Guide for Foreign Domestic Helpers and their Employers on the Race Discrimination Ordinance
Information on the EOC and the anti-discrimination ordinances in other languages

From now until 8 March 2014, members of the public who downloaded the EOC Smart Phone App may enter a lucky draw, and stand a chance of winning an iPad mini or a portable charger for mobile phones. The EOC smart phone app, now available for both iPhone and Android, has been developed to facilitate convenient access to the EOC’s information. It features an introduction to the EOC, a brief description of the four anti-discrimination ordinances, the EOC’s latest news, a multimedia centre and a mini-game. Another significant feature of the app is that it provides users with “Barrier-Free Access Support” to cater to the special needs of different users. Deadline for the lucky draw is coming soon so act now and download the app!

Download the EOC Smart Phone App for iPhone
Download the EOC Smart Phone App for Android
Enter for the Lucky Draw
Press release on the introduction of the EOC Smart Phone Apps

To promote cooperation across different sectors and industries on new community partnership opportunities and corporate social responsibility solutions, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service is organising the Caring Company Partnership Expo 2014 on 28 February 2014. Nearly 70 exhibition booths showcasing social services and social enterprises, in addition to networking sessions organised around particular topics to bring together potential partners with similar interests, will be organised. The Expo will also feature the ceremony for various awards under the Caring Company Scheme, including the List of Barrier-free Companies / Organisations (the EOC is one of the recognised organisations), as well as the “Outstanding Partnership Project Award” and “Outstanding Award for Social Inclusion.”

Date:	28 February 2014 (Friday)
Time:	1pm - 6pm
Venue:	Hall 3F & 3G, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wanchai
Fee:	Free of charge (Open to representatives from business, social service or public sector)

Details and registration