On 23 April 2014, the EOC Chairperson, Dr. York CHOW, presented the Commission’s work plan, future priority areas and new initiatives to the Legislative Council’s Panel on Constitutional Affairs. In his presentation, Dr. Chow highlighted the good progress made in the 5 three-year strategic work priorities identified by the EOC in consultation with the Board and key stakeholders. These priorities are the Discrimination Law Review; legal protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity; education and employment opportunities for ethnic minorities; integrated education for students with special educational needs and its implication on employment opportunities; and adopting an updated and unified definition of disability in the performance of government functions. Dr. Chow also noted in his presentation the various initiatives undertaken through the EOC’s Anti-Sexual Harassment Campaign, as well as the Commission’s participation in international events to share knowledge and learn more about global good practices in addressing discrimination and promoting equal opportunities.

In addition, Dr. Chow drew attention in his remarks to the severe financial constraint faced by the EOC due to the office rental increase, which the EOC is financing through its reserve funds as the level of government subvention earmarked for rent has remained more or less the same since 1996. The EOC Chairperson urged legislators to support the Commission’s bid for a permanent premise, which the EOC considers to be the most desirable solution over the long term.

Read the EOC’s paper

On 23 April 2014, representatives from the EOC attended the meeting of the Legislative Council Bills Committee on the Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2014 to present the Commission’s stance on the proposed Bill, after our earlier submission on this issue to the Council and the government. The EOC believes that the Bill in its current form is not appropriate for two reasons. Firstly, by requiring full sex-reassignment surgery in order to marry in an acquired gender, the EOC believes that this may be in breach of the provisions under the Bill of Rights, as many transgender persons cannot or choose not to undergo such surgeries which result in sterilisation. Secondly, it is not a comprehensive Gender Recognition Bill to provide all the rights of people who have transitioned to their identified gender. The EOC is of the view that the government should introduce a Gender Recognition Ordinance, without any prerequisite for sex-reassignment surgery, as soon as possible in order to ensure that all transgender persons can access the full range of their rights without discrimination. Although the government has established an interdepartmental group to consider the wider issues of the process for gender recognition and rights of transgender people, the EOC is concerned that the proposed Bill will entrench problems under the current system into primary legislation.

Read the EOC’s submission

The EOC Community Participation Funding Programme (CPFP) 2014/15 is now open for application. The Programme aims at encouraging eligible organisations to carry out projects which promote public understanding of equal opportunities. It is hoped that the funded projects would foster anti-discriminatory attitudes and motivate members of the public to put aside their prejudices, and support and apply the principles of equal opportunities in everyday life. To be eligible for funding, the applications should reach the EOC either by 15 May 2014 (1st batch) or by 31 July 2014 (2nd batch), and clearly state how the planned activities will promote equal opportunities, and/or foster anti-discriminatory attitudes and behaviours. The maximum funding limit of each project is $50,000.

Read the press release
See more details on the CPFP

On 14 April 2014, a total of 110 enterprises and organisations were lauded at an awards presentation ceremony under the Web Accessibility Recognition Scheme, co-organised by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) and the EOC, for adopting effective designs in websites and mobile apps to facilitate access by everyone, including persons with disabilities. These organisations can now display the web accessibility logo in their websites and mobile apps to showcase their achievements in making web content accessible to everyone. With a view to further fostering public awareness of web accessibility, online voting for “Most Favourite Websites” was introduced this year to identify accessible websites. The Recognition Scheme is a key element of the Web Accessibility Campaign, launched by the Government in October 2011. The commended organisations come from different business sectors, indicating the increasing awareness and adoption of accessible web designs to facilitate everyone to access the latest online information and services. To show support to the Scheme, Dr. York CHOW, the EOC Chairperson, attended the awards presentation ceremony with EOC Member Nelson Yip, and presented prizes to recognised organisations.

More information about the Web Accessibility Recognition Scheme

The “Equal Opportunities Diversity Project”, the EOC’s weekly radio programme to promote public awareness on inclusion and diversity, has begun its 2014/15 broadcast on 3 April 2014. A 12-month radio programme on RTHK Radio 2, it aims to promote racial harmony, inclusion of people with disability, gender equality and accommodation for persons with family status. The major initiatives include weekly interviews on equal opportunities issues and radio segments on discrimination cases, as well as the lifestyles, languages and culture of ethnic minorities. The weekly interviews with stakeholders on equal opportunities issues will be broadcast on RTHK Radio 2 programme, “Made in Hong Kong Mr. Alex Lee,” every Thursday, 2:00 to 2:30 pm, from 3 April 2014 to 26 March 2015. Click on the link below to listen to previous programmes.

Listen to previous programmes (Cantonese version only)

Primaco Productions has launched “Love is for Everyone,” a photography competition and exhibition which aims to increase the public awareness on sex discrimination in Hong Kong. This project enables the study of related issues in this international city through the lens and perspective of the participants. Besides artistic and technical skills, the photographer must convey a pertinent message, such as respecting human relationship and not limiting relationships by gender and gender roles. Selected photographs and their expressed messages will be used for the production of documentary films that lead to art-related activities serving educational purposes on sex equality. Deadline for entries is 10 May 2014 midnight. This project is funded through the EOC’s Community Participation Funding Programme.

More on this competition

To commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHOT) 2014, observed annually on 17 May, the Pink Alliance, in collaboration with Amnesty International and the Transgender Resource Center, is organising a series of events from 1 April to 18 May. The events will enable Hong Kong’s LBGT community and its allies to raise awareness of human rights violations against sexual minorities locally and around the world. One of these activities is the IDAHOT Hong Kong #RainbowLaces Social Media campaign, which was launched on 5 April 2014 to engage the wider public, particularly young people, on the issue of eliminating homophobia and transphobia. Participants are urged to take creative photos with the rainbow laces (interpreting the IDAHOT global theme of “Free Expression”), add the hashtag #rainbowlaces to the photos and post them on social media platforms. Laces will be available at IDAHOT HK events.

IDAHOT HK Facebook page