Lack of adequate access to premises and the facilities therein for people with disabilities and the elderly remains prevalent in Hong Kong. On 13 February 2015, the EOC issued legal proceedings in the District Court under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance, Cap. 487, on behalf of a person with mobility impairment who uses a wheelchair. The Plaintiff was unable to access and use an accessible toilet in a restaurant, owing to the fact that the toilet concerned was used as a storeroom filled with sundry items, and was in conditions of disrepair that posed safety hazards to users. Despite repeated requests, the company operating the restaurant failed to carry out the necessary works to remove the barriers and rectify the situation. The EOC has granted legal assistance in this case in order to highlight the importance of providing independent and adequate barrier-free access to facilities, notably accessible toilets, within premises. By taking this case to the court, the EOC hopes to raise public awareness on this issue and the need for improvement.

Read the press release
Barrier-Free Life: the EOC’s resource webpage on disability issues

In celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD), observed annually on 21 March, the EOC and RTHK Radio 2 will join hands to organise a public event on Saturday 14 March 2015, with support from Caritas Youth and Community Service. The theme of this year’s event, “We Are Hong Kong: Racial Equality in Action,” was formulated with the aim of encouraging the public to embrace Hong Kong’s racial diversity as a part of this city’s unique identity, and recognise the many contributions made by ethnic minorities towards our mutual growth. We are delighted to have Prof. the Hon Anthony CHEUNG Bing-leung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Transport and Housing, consenting to be the event’s Guest of Honour, during which he will deliver keynote remarks. The event will also feature speeches and sharing on issues relating to racial integration and discrimination, as well as musical/cultural performances and information booths.

Date:	14 March 2015 (Saturday)
Time:	2:30pm – 4:30pm
Language:	Cantonese (with English summary)
Venue:	L1 Stars Atrium Plaza Hollywood 3 Lung Poon Street, Diamond Hill Kowloon, Hong Kong

More about our past IDERD events

The EOC’s Calendar Training for Spring 2015 (March to June 2015) is now open for enrolment. Among the current offerings are “The Commission and the Ordinances”, which introduces the anti-discrimination laws in Hong Kong and the work of the EOC; “Enhancing Cultural Sensitivity at Work”, featuring sharing from other organisations and ethnic minority individuals on promoting an inclusive workplace; and training on “Preventing and Managing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace”. Other programmes popular among human resource practitioners include “Managing Recruitment and Selection Processes” and “Managing Complaints in the Workplace”. Employers, human resource practitioners, and members of the public who wish to learn about all these and other discrimination issues can click on the link below for more details.

Details

On 13-15 February 2015, the first Hong Kong Queer Literary and Cultural Festival, organised by Hong Kong-based non-profit advocacy group Nu Tong Xue She, was held at the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (JCCAC). The event, with the theme “Reading Love”, aimed to provide a friendly and open environment for the general public to explore, discuss and better understand the various facets of gender and sexuality. The Festival, which was funded by the EOC’s Community Participation Funding Programme, showcased books relevant to gender and sexuality issues; featured activities such as book readings, seminars and sharing sessions; and provided booths for vendors of relevant books and handicraft, as well as a cozy reading corner for visitors. Dr. John TSE Wing-ling, Convenor of the EOC’s Policy and Research Committee, officiated at the launch ceremony on 13 February 2015.

For many people with visual impairment, seeing eye dogs can provide crucial assistance to enhance their mobility and ease of life, in addition to being a source of comfort and companionship. However, until recently, seeing eye dogs in Hong Kong were few and far in between. It was, therefore, a major step forward when the first local training centre for seeing eye dogs in Hong Kong was opened on 3 February 2015 by Hong Kong Seeing Eye Dog Services (HKSEDS). A non-profit organisation aiming at the promotion of professional seeing eye dog services in this city, HKSEDS provides qualified seeing eye dogs to suitable individuals with visual impairment, with pairing training and follow-up services free of charge. To familiarise the Commission’s staff with HKSEDS’ work, Mr. Raymond Cheung, HKSEDS’ Chairman of the Board, two volunteers of HKSEDS and two seeing eye dogs visited the EOC office on 10 February to share about the work and services provided by HKSEDS and the seeing eye dogs.

More about Hong Kong Seeing Eye Dog Services