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  1. The EOC Issues Statement on the Government’s Open Recruitment of the EOC Chairperson

EOC Office

On 9 September 2015, the EOC issued a statement to welcome the Government’s continued adoption of open and transparent procedures for recruiting the next EOC Chairperson. Dr York CHOW, the incumbent Chairperson of the EOC, said: “The EOC is a highly important statutory organisation of Hong Kong, playing a crucial role in upholding the international status of the city, and building a diverse and inclusive society with equal opportunities for all. Over the last two years or so since I became Chairperson of the EOC, I have found the Commission’s work to be extremely meaningful with a strong sense of mission. We have seen progress made in the internal governance and reform of the Commission, as well as various work areas.” The term of office of Dr. Chow will expire on 31 March 2016. Under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has the authority to appoint the EOC Chairperson and a Selection Board will recommend the most suitable candidate to the Chief Executive for appointment.


Read the full EOC statement
Read the Government’s press release

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  1. The EOC Urges Kindergartens To Embrace Diversity And Inclusion In Accepting Ethnic Minority Students

Drawing of Children

On 31 August 2015, the EOC issued a media statement urging kindergartens and schools in Hong Kong to be fair and inclusive in accepting ethnic minority (“EM”) children, in light of the commencement of the new school year. The advice comes in the midst of complaints received by the EOC in relation to the admission of EM students to kindergartens and schools, and media reports that some kindergartens provide school information and conduct interviews for young applicants in Chinese only, which may place EM students at a disadvantage. Kindergartens are advised to be cautious when using language as a criterion for selection of applicants. For instance, for non-Chinese speaking applicants, Chinese-medium kindergartens could look at options for evaluation other than interviews held in Chinese and consider factors other than their proficiency in the language.

If parents or students face discriminatory behaviours during the process of kindergarten admissions, they can make an enquiry or lodge a complaint with the EOC. Kindergartens may also contact the EOC to clarify that their policies are not in violation of the anti-discrimination ordinances or to review their admissions procedures. To help schools and kindergartens adhere to the principles of equal opportunities, the EOC is also planning to publish a booklet this year giving suggestions on policies and practices including fair admissions criteria and inclusive school environment.


Read the full statement

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  1. The EOC Gives Legal Assistance in Disability Discrimination Case

Computer keyboard and medicine

On 28 August 2015, the EOC issued legal proceedings in the District Court under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO), Cap. 487, on behalf of a woman who alleged that her employment was terminated by the Respondent, a property management company, after she had taken two days of sick leave for the flu, under the pretext that she was not suitable for the position and despite the fact that she had provided both advance notice and a medical certificate. Under the DDO, it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee by treating him/her less favourably on the ground of the employee’s disability, which is also defined to include illness or disease. By taking this case to the Court, the EOC hopes to raise public awareness and remind employers that disability discrimination in the workplace is unlawful, and that employers should provide reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities.


Read the press statement

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  1. The EOC Invites Applications for the Community Participation Funding Programme

Image of Colouful Hands

The second batch of the EOC Community Participation Funding Programme (CPFP) 2015/16 is now open for application. The Programme aims at encouraging eligible organisations to carry out projects that promote public understanding of equal opportunities. It is hoped that the funded projects would foster anti-discriminatory attitudes and motivate members of the public to put aside their prejudices, and support and apply the principles of equal opportunities in everyday life. Interested organisations should send their applications to the EOC by 18 September 2015, and clearly state how the planned activities will promote equal opportunities, and/or foster anti-discriminatory attitudes and behaviours. The maximum funding limit of each project is HK$50,000.


Read the press release
See more details on the CPFP

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  1. The Asia Social Innovation Award 2015 Calls for Social Start-Up Ideas

Asia Social Innovation Award 2015 (English)

The Asia Social Innovation Award (ASIA) is calling for entries of innovative and sustainable business solution to address social issues. The ASIA was launched in 2008 and aims to promote social entrepreneurship and business 2.0 concepts in Asia through a social innovation idea competition. The Award provides a platform for idea-stage entrepreneurs to kick-start projects through cross-country networking and expertise exchanges. In the first phase, three winners will be selected from submissions in each region including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Other Asia for “Best Social Start-up Idea” award in their respective region. Application for Hong Kong participants closes on 12 October 2015.


Details

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  1. The EOC Supports Community Business’ Work-Life Balance Week 2015

Work Life Balance Week 2015

The EOC has all along been dedicated to promoting work-life balance and family-friendly workplace practices. We are proud to be a supporting organisation to Community Business’ annual Work-Life Balance Week, which provides a platform for organisations to demonstrate their commitment to work-life balance while raising awareness of the issue’s strategic importance to business and productivity in Hong Kong and across Asia. Since its launch in 2008, over hundreds of companies and organisations across the region have participated in this initiative organising their own activities and initiatives to promote work-life balance. This year, the campaign will take place from 26 to 30 October 2015. Community Business is inviting companies in both Hong Kong and the wider Asia region to participate and drive change across borders. Please click on the below link for more details.


Details

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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.