中文版

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  1. EOC gives legal assistance to foreign domestic worker in disability discrimination case

Photo of a balance scale, a symbol of justice.The EOC issued legal proceedings on 1 November 2019 under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO) in the District Court, on behalf of a foreign domestic worker (the Claimant) who claimed that, by terminating her employment, her former employer (the Respondent) discriminated against her on the ground of the disabilities of her associates (i.e. her deceased parents).

The Claimant alleged that she was assigned by the Respondent to take up additional heavy renovation work. Consequently, she experienced high blood pressure, dizziness and slurred speech. While the Claimant was in hospital, in response to the Respondent’s enquiry, she revealed to the Respondent that her parents died of strokes in their fifties. On the night when she was discharged from hospital, the Respondent terminated her employment with immediate effect. The termination letter stated clearly that she was dismissed because of her deceased parents’ medical history.

Under the DDO, it is unlawful for a person to discriminate against another person by treating him or her less favourably on the ground of the disability of the latter’s “associate”, which includes “a spouse of the person”, “another person who is living with the person on a genuine domestic basis”, “a relative of the person”, etc.

It is not uncommon that foreign domestic workers become subject to discriminatory treatment after falling ill. By taking this case to the court, the EOC hopes to raise public awareness of unlawful disability discrimination in the workplace and educate employers that reasonable accommodation should be provided for employees with disabilities.

Read the press release
About the Diability Discrimination Ordinance
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  1. EOC and CUHK to co-host seminar on sexual harassment in legal profession and higher education

Picture of a neon sign reading “MeToo”Sexual harassment is an issue that affects all walks of life and all sectors of society. Two particular sectors – tertiary education and the legal industry – will be the subject of discussion at an upcoming public seminar titled “Sexual Harassment in the Legal Profession and Higher Education: A Global View and A Local Perspective”, co-organised by the EOC and the Faculty of Law and Gender Research Centre of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Scheduled on 11 November 2019 (Monday), 4 – 5:40pm, the seminar has invited Mr Kieran PENDER from the International Bar Association (IBA) to present IBA’s latest report on the largest-ever global survey on bullying and sexual harassment in the legal profession, with a sample size of nearly 7,000 individuals from 135 countries across the wide spectrum of legal workplaces. Dr Ferrick CHU, Acting Chief Operations Officer of the EOC, will also be present to give a quick overview of the situation of sexual harassment in Hong Kong, with a special focus on higher education. A panel discussion with representatives from the Hong Kong Bar Association and CUHK will follow to explore better, more effective solutions to eliminating sexual harassment.

The seminar will take place at LT1, Graduate Law Centre of CUHK, 2/F, Bank of America Tower, Central, Hong Kong. Interested parties may register at the link below by 8 November 2019 (Friday). Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For enquiries, please contact Ms Kwok of the Gender Research Centre at 3943 8775.

Visit the event’s Facebook page
Register for the seminar
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  1. EOC lucky draw closes next Friday

Picture of a lottery fortune wheel with a goldren frame and red and white stripesApplication for the EOC lucky draw will close on 15 November 2019 (Friday)! Grab your chance to win a 7.9-inch, 64GB iPad mini (Wi-Fi + Cellular)! We are also giving out 50 supermarket vouchers, each valued at HK$100. 

To participate, simply download the app from the App Store or Google Play and submit your name, telephone number and email to us. Results will be announced on the EOC website, and in Sing Tao Daily and The Standard on 27 November 2019.

Introduced in 2013, the EOC app features information on the four anti-discrimination ordinances, latest news about the Commission’s programmes, as well as inclusion-themed videos and radio shows. Compliant with the Level AA requirements of the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, the app comes with a voice-over function and an option to switch to a yellow-text-against-black-background version, among other features that accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Download the EOC app on App Store
Download the EOC app on Google Play
Apply for the lucky draw
Read the terms and conditions
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  1. Free Ride Day for PWDs to take place this Sunday

Picture of a wheelchair user getting on a bus.To honour the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, a “Free Ride Day” will be held on 10 November 2019 (Sunday). Citizens holding the “Registration Card for People with Disabilities” issued by the Labour and Welfare Bureau, as well as one accompanying carer, will get to access public transport, museums and swimming pools free-of-charge on that day.

For a complete list of facilities under the scheme, please click the link below.

Download the user guide

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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.