On 23 July 2019, the EOC issued a statement in response to a Facebook post published by legislator the Hon CHIANG Lai-wan earlier this month. Sharing a video that described the sexual orientation of SHAM Tsz-kit, convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front as “sickening”, she wrote, “Important news! Spread the word!”.

While the four anti-discrimination ordinances currently in place – namely the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, the Disability Discrimination Ordinance, the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance and the Race Discrimination Ordinance – do not apply to the incident, the EOC deemed the video derogatory and inappropriate. When expressing an opinion, one should focus on the matter at hand, rather than invoke irrelevant factors, such as a person’s sexual orientation. This is essential for creating a respectful, pluralistic and inclusive society – a vision deeply cherished by the Commission.

To facilitate discussion about eliminating discrimination, harassment and vilification on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status, the EOC released a study in 2016, comparing measures across different jurisdictions, including Macau, Taiwan, Australia, Great Britain, Canada and the Netherlands. Click the link below to learn more.

Read the statement
Read the study report
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breastmilk promotes sensory and cognitive development in infants, and protects them against infectious and chronic diseases. For the first six months of life, WHO recommends both “exclusive breastfeeding” – that is, the infant only receives breastmilk without any additional food or drink, not even water – and “breastfeeding on demand”, meaning the child should be breastfed as often as wanted, day and night.

However, putting this into practice can be quite a challenge because of a general lack of understanding and accommodating facilities in society. This is especially true for working mothers, some of whom have trouble finding a suitable place to express milk in the workplace, while others get labelled by co-workers as slackers who mix work with personal life. 

Recognising these obstacles, Mr Ricky CHU Man-kin, EOC Chairperson published an article in am730 on 24 July 2019, ahead of the World Breastfeeding Week from 1 – 7 August. He wrote, “In order to alleviate supervisors and colleagues’ misunderstanding, companies may establish a breastfeeding-friendly policy and a practical guide for breastfeeding employees. If feasible, companies may also provide facilities, such as lactation rooms, multi-purpose rooms and mini refrigerators for mothers to express and store milk in a safe and friendly environment.”

As Mr Chu puts it, “Breastmilk is a gift from a mother to her child.” With greater awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and a stronger sense of empathy, we can all contribute to building a more breastfeeding-friendly workplace.
 

Read Mr Ricky CHU’s article in full (Chinese only) 
Take a look at WHO’s infographics for breastfeeding mothers
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Healthcare should be inclusive for everyone, regardless of their gender, disability or race. The dental industry is no exception. For the first time, the EOC is making an appearance at the Hong Kong International Dental Expo and Symposium (HKIDEAS), organised annually by the Hong Kong Dental Association. This year, the event will take place from 2 – 4 August at Hall 5F & 5G, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai.

If you happen to be a practitioner or someone passionate about the industry’s development, be sure to drop by our booth (No. B16) and learn more about how Hong Kong’s anti-discrimination ordinances apply to dental services, and what can be done to promote the development of barrier-free dental care in Hong Kong. Some of the EOC’s publications and souvenirs are also available for pick-up on a first-come, first-served basis.

More about HKIDEAS
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Set up by the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee, the Hong Kong Joint Council for People with Disabilities and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), the List of Sign Language Interpreters seeks to promote the learning and application of sign language, as well as the development of sign language interpretation as a profession. It includes details on the qualifications, working experience and contacts of over 50 interpreters in Hong Kong.

The updated list has been uploaded to the HKCSS website this month. Organisations who wish to enhance the accessibility of their services and events for persons with hearing impairment may refer to the list and arrange for sign language interpretation.

View the list (Chinese only)
Find out how to get listed (Chinese only)