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 To all our Friends and Stakeholders,

 

The EOC is deeply saddened by last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut. We extend our sincere condolences to the families and the loved ones of those affected by these senseless tragedies. As we join fellow Hongkongers to denounce the violence, the EOC believes that it is vital for our city to stand together, to reiterate our multi-racial society’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, mutual acceptance and equal opportunities.

 

  1. The EOC Gives Legal Assistance in Disability Discrimination Case

Picture of person with leg injuryOn 19 November 2015, the EOC issued legal proceedings in the District Court under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO), Cap. 487, on behalf of a security guard (the “Claimant”) who alleged that her employer (“the Respondent”) discriminated against her on the ground of disability by dismissing her. The Claimant suffered an injury to her ankle at work, and took work injury sick leave for over one year. When she resumed work after full recovery, she was deployed to stay in the office with no assignment. The Respondent arranged for her to take all of her accumulated annual leave. Upon her return to duty from annual leave, she was dismissed with immediate effect.

The EOC has provided assistance in this case to remind the public that no employee should be discriminated after resumption of duty from work injury sick leave, which can be necessary in order to enable the employee to recuperate from illnesses and disabilities. Moreover, it is important to note that the definition of disability under the DDO includes disability that previously existed but no longer exists. Recruitment and redundancy exercises should be carried out fairly with the use of consistent and non-discriminatory criteria, without bias to one’s past or present disability.

Read the press release

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  1. The EOC Speaks on Ethnic Minorities in Poverty Issue at Meeting of LegCo Subcommittee on Poverty

Op-ed article by Chairperson of EOC in SCMP on 17 November 2015On 17 November 2015, representatives from the EOC gave a presentation to the Legislative Council’s Subcommittee on Poverty, which held a meeting to examine the specific situation of poverty for ethnic minorities. In the presentation, the EOC urged that additional language skills be recognised and alternative Chinese qualifications be consistently accepted in admissions to tertiary institutes, including to sub-degree courses. The EOC also called on employers to determine whether their Chinese-language requirements for different jobs are truly necessary.

To further reiterate the position of the Commission, the EOC Chairperson, Dr. York CHOW, published an op-ed article in the South China Morning Post and Ming Pao Daily on 17 November and 19 November respectively. In his article, Dr. Chow noted, “Educational inequality facing ethnic minority Hongkongers, as well as the subsequent barriers to employment opportunities, continue to be key concerns of the Commission, as it has real impact on their ability to break the cycle of poverty.” He emphasised the role of the Government in leading a more comprehensive policy solution, starting from the pre-school level. This includes reconsidering the Chinese-language requirements for certain civil service jobs and recognising third-language capabilities in the recruitment process, particularly in roles that provide direct service to the public. He also urged school and university administrators to proactively ensure that there is no inadvertent race discrimination in other areas of campus life, including in residence hall policies or student activities. “Equally importantly is the acknowledgement that we are all, whatever our ethnic background, a part of Hong Kong and contributors to our collective future,” wrote Dr. Chow. “Surely, all of us can help to end discriminatory behaviours, and ensure that no one in our city suffer such poverty.”

Read the submission to LegCo
Read the article

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  1. The EOC Urges Measures to Facilitate Equal Access to Voting at District Council Election on 22 November

Logo of 2015 District Council ElectionWith the District Council election coming up on 22 November 2015, the EOC issued a statement on 19 November 2015 to call on the Government, the relevant Government Departments and frontline workers to take active measures, with a view to ensuring that the equal voting rights of voters with disabilities or from ethnic communities will not be deprived due to inaccessible polling stations or language barriers. Dr. York CHOW, Chairperson of the EOC said, “As the statutory organisation tasked with the elimination of discrimination and promotion of equal opportunities, the EOC attaches much importance to the right of all to equal participation in politics and public affairs. The EOC considers that all eligible voters, regardless of their ethnic background or whether they have a disability, should enjoy equal rights to cast their votes.”

The EOC has met with representatives of the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) to share our views. Apart from relaying the concerns of voters with disabilities or from ethnic minority communities, the EOC also uploaded the information about the facilitation measures for voters with disabilities or special needs, such as the REO’s dedicated hotline and website hyperlinks for voters with visual impairment or from ethnic communities, onto the EOC website for public reference.

Read the press release
Information on facilitation measures for electors with special needs

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  1. The EOC Organises Stakeholder Engagement Exercise on 24 November 2015

EOC OfficeTo foster better communication with our stakeholders and engage the public on initiatives to promote equal opportunities in Hong Kong, the EOC will organise the EOC Forum on 24 November 2015 (1:30pm – 6:15pm), at the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Building in Quarry Bay.

In addition to providing a brief report on EOC’s performance and major work undertaken in the past year, the Forum aims to:

• Highlight the EOC’s future work plan and obtain feedbacks from stakeholders;
• Examine the special theme of “Ethnic minorities’ education and employment challenges”;
• Present the Commission’s three-pronged approach of addressing the needs of ethnic minorities through policy, training and outreach.

Guest speakers from various Government Departments and public bodies as well as the private sector will give a presentation on the event’s special theme. Registration confirmation has been sent to successfully enrolled participants.

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  1. The EOC Chairperson Shares Thoughts on Equality at Exhibition of the Magna Carta in Hong Kong

Magna Carta 800 Global Tour – Hong KongOn 12 November 2015, the EOC Chairperson was a panellist at “Magna Carta for the 21st Century – Equality in the Workplace” event, organised by the British Consulate-General Hong Kong, in honour of the Magna Carta’s 800th anniversary and exhibition in Hong Kong on 11-14 November. Dr. Chow spoke about the importance of the concept of “equality before the law” set out by the Magna Carta, and its continuing influence on the EOC’s work today to eliminate discrimination.

 

Chairperson of EOC at “Magna Carta for the 21st Century – Equality in the Workplace” event

Dr. Chow also highlighted the situation of inequality in the workplace facing many groups, including women, ethnic minorities, people with disability, and sexual minorities, and called on the Government to be a leader on this front. “Driving a workplace culture that is truly and sustainably non-discriminatory and respects all people requires multiple collaborative actions across sectors, from solid policies, to strong advocacy, to a more accepting attitude fostered through public education led by a government that is committed to building equality for now and the future. We must go beyond what is legal to doing what is right, just, and, quite simply, decent. And the Government should be a role model on this front for all,” said Dr. Chow.

Read the full speech

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Visit our website or download the EOC mobile app to stay updated on the EOC’s work and positions, and to review our press releases, speeches, media interviews, 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.