On 8 July 2014, the EOC kick-started a three-month long public consultation on the Discrimination Law Review. The exercise, with the goals of modernising and harmonising the anti-discrimination ordinances in Hong Kong, examines various important issues and possible changes to different aspects of the anti-discrimination laws. In order to hear public’s views on DLR and directly address the concerns and interests of different stakeholder groups, a number of consultation meetings have been lined up further to the three consultation sessions that have already been conducted in August 2014 in Cantonese, English and Nepali respectively. Please see the details below and contact us if you are interested to attend.

Date	Time	Venue	Language
16 Aug 2014 (Saturday)	2:30 – 4:30 pm	Mong Kok Community Hall L2, Mong Kok Complex, 557 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok	Cantonese
17 Aug 2014 (Sunday)	1:30 – 3:00pm	Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple 371 Queen's Rd East, Hong Kong	English with Punjabi interpretation
23 Aug 2014 (Saturday)	2:30 – 4:30 pm	EOC Conference Room 19 Floor, Cityplaza Three, 14 Taikoo Wan Rd, Taikoo Shing, HK	English
24 Aug 2014 (Sunday)	1:30 – 3:00pm	Kowloon Mosque Community Hall 105 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon	English with Urdu interpretation
30 Aug 2014 (Saturday)	2:30 – 4:30 pm	Tuen Mun Town Hall 3 Tuen Hi Rd, Tuen Mun	Cantonese
7 Sept 2014 (Sunday)	10.30am - 12.30pm	EOC Conference Room 19 Floor, Cityplaza Three, 14 Taikoo Wan Rd, Taikoo Shing, HK	English with Indonesian interpretation
7 Sept 2014 (Sunday)	2:30 – 4:30pm	Lok Sin Tong Lee Yin Yee United Centre – Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities G/F, 47 Tak Ku Ling Road, Kowloon City	English with Thai interpretation

 

Visit the dedicated webpage
Read the press release
Download the full consultation documents
Download the Executive Summary

Earlier this year, the EOC announced the commissioning of the Gender Research Centre, Hong Kong Institute of Asia Pacific Studies of The Chinese University of Hong Kong to conduct a Feasibility Study of Legislating against Discrimination on the Grounds of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status (SOGI). The study seeks to systematically identify the discrimination, harassment and vilification encountered by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons in the public domain, such as employment, education and training, as well as access to services and facilities, and explore whether an anti-discrimination legislation on the grounds of SOGI is feasible. To raise public awareness on LGBTI rights and discrimination against them, the Gender Research Centre will organize large-scale public forums. The next forum will be held on 30 August at the Hong Kong Central Library to look at the interregional comparison on the practices and implications of legislating against discrimination on the grounds of SOGI and intersex status. On 27 September, the last forum, to be held at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, will seek to review the social effects and impact of legislating against discrimination on the grounds of SOGI and intersex status in Hong Kong. Members of the public, LGBTI concern groups and all relevant stakeholder groups are invited to attend the forums to express their opinions. Prior registration is required and interested parties can register at the dedicated website of the Study.

Visit the website of the Study

The calendar training workshops for Fall 2014 are now open for enrolment! To continuously enhance public awareness of issues relating to discrimination and equal opportunities, the EOC provides calendar training workshops on the anti-discrimination ordinances and other related topics. In particular, the Fall 2014 calendar training will offer a new workshop, “Enhancing Cultural Sensitivity At Work,” which aims to explore different cultures and traditions of various ethnic minority groups in Hong Kong and dispel common ethnic stereotypes, so as to promote a culturally sensitive and inclusive workplace. Other workshops on offer cover a wide range of topics, including the vicarious liability of employers, enhancing access for all, and Preventing and Managing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.

Fall 2014 Calendar Training

On 16 July 2014, the EOC Chairperson, Dr. York CHOW, met with the Working Group on Community Support for Breastfeeding to discuss the issue of breastfeeding rights. At the meeting, Dr. Chow reiterated the Commission’s stance that it is a mother’s right to breastfeed her baby at any time and in any place. He emphasised the importance of both public education to promote the importance of breastfeeding as well as the anti-discrimination law in protecting breastfeeding mothers. Currently, related complaints may be handled under the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance, which stipulates that it is unlawful for any employer or provider of goods, facilities or services to the public to discriminate against a person who has family status in the course of employment or the provision of goods or service. As part of the ongoing Discrimination Law Review, the EOC is also consulting the public on providing express protection for breastfeeding women under the definition of family status, in order to enhance clarity and bring Hong Kong’s law in line with international best practices.

More on the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance
See relevant part in the public consultation document under the Discrimination Law Review

In the new school year of 2014, the EOC continues to work with thirteen local tertiary institutions to promote the online training course on preventing sexual harassment on campus, “A Matter of S/HE”, to their students and staff. The training, which explains the definitions and various types of sexual harassment that could occur in school settings, is Hong Kong’s first online self-learning training module on preventing sexual harassment on campus. It also illustrates the liability of individuals and educational institutions.

Publicity posters and souvenirs will be delivered on campus. Moreover, e-certificates and 8GB USB memory sticks will be awarded to users who have successfully completed the training module. Since the launch of the online training module, over 5,500 university students and staff have used the training package.

Online training module: ‘Preventing Sexual Harassment on Campus – A Matter of S/HE’

The EOC is delighted to be a supporting organisation for Community Business’ campaign, ‘Fair Opportunity’, which is designed to remove barriers to inclusion and provide a fair opportunity to talent with disabilities. The programme brings together leading employers committed to inclusive recruitment with a targeted pool of students with disabilities in Hong Kong. With pre-event workshops to build disability confidence, the programme centres on the hosting of an inclusive recruitment fair, where employers have the opportunity to position themselves as an employer of choice for people with disabilities. Through this initiative, students with disabilities will have the platform to meet directly with employers and explore employment opportunities.

More on the ‘Fair Opportunity’ Campaign