中文版

  1. EOC Chairperson Writes about Fair Kindergarten Admission for Ethnic Minority Children

Op-ed article by Professor Alfred Chan, EOC Chairperson in the SCMP on 18 August 2016

For parents who want their children to “win at the starting line”, kindergarten application is like a battle. And for many ethnic minority parents, it is a battle they find themselves constantly losing.

In his op-ed article in the South China Morning Post (SCMP) and Ming Pao Daily this week, Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Chairperson Professor Alfred CHAN Cheung-ming sheds light on the plight of ethnic minority parents and their school-age children in Hong Kong, many of whom face rejection by kindergartens.

According to figures from the Education Bureau, 44% of all kindergartens do not have non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students, while 35% have fewer than 10 such students. The consequence is the concentration of NCS children in a few kindergartens where support for Chinese learning is often less efficient. This thus limits these children’s options of primary schools, and then of secondary schools – the chances for them to improve their Chinese language narrowing by each step – eventually affecting their tertiary education and job opportunities.

In his articles, Prof. Chan expresses his hope to see the Government render greater support to NCS children under the new free kindergarten education policy, so that these children can gradually integrate into the mainstream Chinese learning environment.

Cover of “Promotion of Racial Integration and Prevention of Racial Discrimination in Schools” Guidance Booklet

On another note, the EOC has earlier launched an e-booklet for schools and parents on racial discrimination in the school context and ways to promote a racially and culturally inclusive learning environment for our younger generation. The print version of this guidance booklet is now available and will be distributed to all kindergartens and schools.

The EOC will keep a close eye on the effectiveness of the Government’s measures and continue to fight for equal access to educational opportunities and better support in other areas for the ethnic minority members of our community.

Read Prof. Chan’s op-ed in the SCMP
Read the “Promotion of Racial Integration and Prevention of Racial Discrimination in Schools” Guidance Booklet

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  1. Assisting the Social Service Sector to Develop Anti-Sexual Harassment Policies

Leaflet on Sexual Harassment – the Sex Discrimination  (Amendment) Ordinance 2014 Protects Providers of Good, Facilities or Services

Sexual harassment is a persistent problem in the workplace, especially in the service sector, where frontline service providers are susceptible to sexual harassment by their clients or customers. To tackle the problem, the Government adopted the EOC’s recommendations and amended the Sex Discrimination Ordinance in 2014 to make sexual harassment of providers of goods, facilities or services by users unlawful. Nevertheless, many companies and organisations today still lack consistent and standardised policies to manage sexual harassment issues. In view of this, the EOC has been working with various sectors to educate management staff on the importance of having such policies in place.

 On 18 August 2016, the EOC and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service co-organised an anti-sexual harassment seminar for the management staff of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the social service sector. To deepen the participants’ understanding on the subject, the EOC representatives explained the negative impact of sexual harassment, the related legislation and liability of different parties, and provided guidance on how to develop an effective anti-sexual harassment policy. Representatives from several NGOs also shared their experience and good practices in formulating such policies and handling related complaints.

For organisations that want to develop their own sexual harassment policies, they can take reference from the EOC’s “Framework for Corporate Policy on Sexual Harassment”, which is available on the EOC web.

Learn more about sexual harassment in the workplace
Read the promotional leaflet on “Sexual Harassment – The Sex Discrimination Ordinance Protects Providers of Goods, Facilities or Services”
Read the “Framework for Corporate Policy on Sexual Harassment”
Sign up for the EOC’s training programme (fall 2016) on “Preventing and Managing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace”

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  1. Those were the Days – Youth Theatre Showcase Production under the Jockey Club Equal Opportunities Drama Project

Poster of drama “Those were the Days”

Want to support a group of energetic young people who share a passion for the stage and for promoting social inclusion? Come join us in the audience for the Cantonese play Those were the Days.

Those were the Days is the first Youth Theatre Showcase production under the Jockey Club Equal Opportunities Drama Project. The three-year project, which was launched in September 2015, is organised by Prospects Theatre Company, funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and supported by the EOC. In addition to spreading equal opportunity messages, the project aims to inspire young people in Hong Kong – whatever their backgrounds and ethnicities – to express themselves through the theatre.

A total of four shows will be run from 2 to 4 September (Friday to Sunday) at Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets are now on sale at Urbtix. Get them before they are sold out!

Get tickets for the play
About the Jockey Club Equal Opportunities Drama Project (in Chinese only)
Follow Prospects Theatre

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  1. Facilitation Measures for Electors with Special Needs in the 2016 Legislative Council Election

Poster of 2016 Legislative Council election

The upcoming Legislative Council Election is taking place on 4 September 2016. As in previous years, the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) has taken measures to assist electors with special needs, including those with mobility difficulties, visual impairments or hearing impairments, and ethnic minority voters.

The EOC firmly believes that all members of society who are eligible voters should enjoy equal rights to participate in the election without being restricted by their disabilities and ethnic backgrounds. We welcome the REO’s steps to facilitate the participation of people with special needs in the election. The facilitation measures, including the REO’s dedicated hotline and website hyperlinks for voters with visual impairments and those from ethnic minority communities, are now available on the EOC website.

Details on EOC website
Facilitation measures for electors with special needs implemented by the REO

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Visit our website or download the EOC mobile app (Apple App Store / Google Play) to stay updated on the EOC’s work and positions, and to review our press releases and calendar training. 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.