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Launching of Equal Opportunities TV Docu-drama Series

19/01/2009

The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) announces a Year 2009 educational initiative today (19 January 2009) by launching a new TV docu-drama series on discriminatory cases, entitled “A Mission for Equal Opportunities” (非常平等任務). Co-produced by Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), the 6 episodes will be broadcast on TVB Jade channel every Tuesday from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. beginning tomorrow, 20 January 2009.
 
Speaking at the news conference, Mr. Raymond TANG, Chairperson of the EOC, said, “2008 marks a major development in the framework of anti-discrimination laws with the enactment of the Race Discrimination Ordinance. The anti-discrimination laws now protect every person in our community on the grounds of gender, marital status, pregnancy, disability, family status and race.”
 
“The ethnic make up of Hong Kong is an asset despite that only about 5% of the population are ethnic minorities. We are home to a diverse range of communities from all over the world. The racial diversity provides a unique value. It is our link to our trading partners outside Hong Kong and it strengthens Hong Kong as a global trader. We need global citizens and this is our gateway to the world.
 
“Eliminating racism can enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong as a business centre, and help demonstrate to the world that we are a genuine international city," Mr. TANG added.
 
“In this new educational TV series, we aim at promoting understanding of different lifestyles of ethnic minorities and the problems they face in achieving social integration. We have also highlighted discrimination against people taking sick leave for the treatment of illness, disability discrimination in education, and sexual harassment against domestic helpers,” said Mr. TANG.
 
Some of the episodes in the docu-drama series are based on real life cases. The programme will feature analyses of discriminatory acts and the legal perspective of equal opportunity issues.
 
To gauge public responses to the series, EOC officers will man a hotline after each episode from 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on every Tuesday, from 20 January 2009 to 24 February 2009. The public are welcome to call the EOC Hotline at 2511-8211 to air their comments on the programme or ask questions about equal opportunities issues.
 
Guests from ethnic minority groups and celebrities were present at the news conference to promote the launching of the TV series.
 
For media enquiries, please contact Ms. Mariana LAW at 2106-2226.
 
 
Equal Opportunities Commission
19 January 2009
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