In response to the public statement of ProFamily Hong Kong that the Feasibility Study on Legislating against Discrimination on the Grounds of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status (the Study) was biased, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (14 July 2014) issues the following statements :-

1. As a statutory body mandated to enforce the anti-discrimination ordinances, the EOC is committed to the elimination of all types of discrimination in society. The EOC launched the study with the purposes of understanding discrimination faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons in Hong Kong and soliciting views on how such discrimination can be addressed through legislation or other means.
   
2. In commissioning the Study to an independent and neutral research body i.e. The Gender Research Centre (GRC), Hong Kong Institute of Asia Pacific Studies of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the EOC attempts not to interfere with the process and outcomes of the Study. The EOC has no pre-conceived or definitive position, and is open to public opinions on the issues of discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status. The EOC also hopes that the study could open up further discussions and enhance understanding of the general public and stakeholders on the relevant issues.
   
3. The research team has lined up three large-scale public forums this year to raise public awareness of LGBTI issues and discrimination against them. In addition to the first one held on 29 June, two more public forums will be conducted on 30 August and 27 September 2014 respectively. Members of the public, LGBTI concern groups and all relevant stakeholder groups are welcome to participate in the forums to express their opinions. The EOC hopes that the participants can observe the ground rules of the forum including respecting others’ right to voice their views so that they can engage in constructive dialogues.
   
4. Other than focus group meetings with sexual minorities, religious groups and parents groups, the research team will also interview by telephone a representative sample of at least 1,000 people aged 15 or above, with a structured anonymous questionnaire. Through these mixed modes of methodologies, the research team hopes to gather extensive data and opinions to identify the extent of the problems and ways to address the issues.
   
5. Subject to the outcome of the Study, the EOC is open to all possible options to address the problems and discrimination faced by LGBTI people, including the adoption of an anti-discrimination legislation on the grounds of SOGI.

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Equal Opportunities Commission
14 July 2014