On 7 January 2020, the Sexualities Research Programme of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) released the findings of a telephone survey titled “Public Attitudes towards LGBT+ Legal Rights in Hong Kong 2019/20”. The survey intended to gauge changes in public opinion on a number of important issues related to LGBT rights, including whether there should be legal protection against discrimination for transgender people and people of different sexual orientations.

“The EOC commends the professional effort put in by the Sexualities Research Programme at CUHK. Their report is informative and offers new insights into the public sentiment towards legal protection of LGBT rights in Hong Kong,” said Mr Ricky CHU Man-kin, Chairperson of the EOC. “This new study would be a valuable reference for us.”

In 2016, the EOC released a study detailing experience of discrimination among LGBTI individuals in Hong Kong, including a transwoman who said she was fired right after she wore a skirt to work, and a gay student who was reportedly threatened with expulsion by his school after giving a press interview touching on his sexual orientation. The study also looked at relevant anti-discrimination laws in different jurisdictions, including Macau, Taiwan, Australia, Great Britain, Canada and the Netherlands, and identified specific issues of legislation that warrant further discussion in Hong Kong, such as which fields (e.g. employment, education, provision of goods, services and facilities, etc.) should be covered, and whether harassment and vilification should be outlawed along with discrimination.

• Read findings of the CUHK survey
• Read the EOC’s 2016 report