On 29 July 2016, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) issued legal proceedings in the District Court under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance on behalf of a person with disabilities using a motor wheelchair, who finds the policy of  MTR Corporation Limited (MTR) discriminatory.

Under the MTR policy, wheelchair users can request for MTR staff to place a portable ramp over the gap between the platform and the train for them to get on and off the train. However, the assistance is restricted to one wheelchair user per train and to the first carriage. The Claimant in this case complained that he and his wife, who also uses a motor wheelchair, are not allowed to travel together on the same train due to this policy, irrespective of the train’s passenger load. This not only leads to longer travel time for them, but also deprives them of the right to travel with their companions, as in the case of non-wheelchair users. The Claimant is hoping that the MTR would relax the restriction so that more than one wheelchair user can receive assistance when boarding and alighting the same train, depending on how crowded the train is.

It is easy for service providers and society at large to overlook the needs of the disadvantaged. By taking this case to the court, the EOC wants to raise awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities and the importance of equality in everyday life, including access to public transport. We also hope to encourage service providers to factor barrier-free provisions into their policies.

Read the press release
News highlights
Learn more about disability discrimination

The first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), an initiative supported by the UNICEF and the World Health Organization. At an event organised by the Hong Kong Department of Health to celebrate the WBW, the Secretary for Food and Health The Hon KO Wing-man encouraged the public to show more support for women who are breastfeeding, which has long been recognised for its benefits, including enhanced immunity for the babies, lowered risk of breast and ovarian cancer for the mothers, and better mother-child bonding.

Despite rising breastfeeding rate in Hong Kong according to Government statistics, breastfeeding women continue to face pressure and suffer from insufficient facility support in public and the workplace. Many have expressed that they are thrown strange glances in public and considered less productive at work.

		The Equal Opportunities Commission has been actively promoting friendly practices and measures to support breastfeeding mothers through its various communication channels. And last month, we entered the “My Favourite Breast Milk Collection Room” contest, organised by the Hong Kong Breastfeeding Mothers’ Association, and received the Corporate Award for setting up a breastfeeding room in the office. We do hope to see more companies and public places recognise and respect the need of breastfeeding mothers and provide them with the required facilities and support.

About World Breastfeeding Week
About Hong Kong Breastfeeding Mothers’ Association
Information on breastfeeding-friendly workplaces
Information on breastfeeding-friendly premises

On 30 July 2016, Professor Alfred CHAN Cheung-ming, Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), appeared in On the Record, a current affairs talk show produced by TVB. Apart from introducing the work of the EOC, Prof. Chan stated the Commission’s stance on legislation to safeguard the rights of people with different gender identities and sexual orientations, and urged the Government to kick off public consultation on such legislation as soon as possible. He also mentioned that age discrimination in the workplace remains common and expressed his wish to see society placing greater value on the experience and capabilities of the elderly.

Watch the programme (available until 28 September 2016)
Read our “Study on Legislation against Discrimination on the Grounds of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status”
Read our “Exploratory Study on Age Discrimination in Employment”

It was in the year 1996 that the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) came into being, and it means a great deal for us to turn 20. For 20 years, the EOC has been combating discrimination under its jurisdiction while advocating for better protection for various marginalised and disadvantaged groups, and educating the public about equality in the hope of building a more open, caring and inclusive society.

Now celebrating our 20th anniversary, we are pleased to see the younger generation become more supportive of equal opportunity values, and would like to invite 20-years-old to share with us their thoughts on equality. If you were born in 1996, and would like to share your ideas, such as what “equal opportunities” mean to you and Hong Kong, and how we can make the world a fairer place, write to us on or before 15 August 2016. We would love to hear from you – and to continue to grow with you.

Write to us

We are counting down to the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games! While the Olympic motto “Faster – Higher – Stronger” is well-known, equal opportunities also constitute an important element of the Games, where athletes – regardless of sex, age, social background and economic status – all compete equally.

This year, two people close to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), Miss YU Chui-yee, multiple Paralympic gold medallist in wheelchair fencing, and Miss Sarah LEE, who took Hong Kong’s very first Olympic medal in cycling, are taking part in the Games. Both of them were mentors in the EOC’s Career Challenge, whereas Miss Yu is also currently a Member of the EOC Board.

We want to take this opportunity to wish them both the best of luck in Rio. We can’t wait to cheer for them!

Watch Miss Sarah LEE’s Career Challenge sharing

In our society today, there still exist many prejudices and misconceptions about transgender people, whose gender identity and expression differ from their gender at birth. To let more people understand what it means to be transgender, the Association of World Citizens Hong Kong China has produced and launched a number of short videos portraying different facets of life of these people on YouTube and Youku.

To further raise public awareness of transgenderism, the Association will organise two public events on two consecutive Sundays in August, namely an educational seminar on 7 August and a discussion forum on 14 August. The Equal Opportunities Commission is pleased to be one of the sponsors, supporting the two events through the Community Participation Funding Programme.

A friendly reminder: If you are interested in applying for the Community Participation Funding Programme, you are welcome to sign up for the briefing session in English or Cantonese, scheduled for 15 August 2016, on or before 8 August 2016. Meanwhile, the application deadline for the programme (second batch) is 12 September 2016.

Sign up for the events by the Association of World Citizens
Watch videos produced by the Association of World Citizens
Learn about the Community Participation Funding Programme