The first joint seminar of The Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB), The Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB) and Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) to promote fair access to banking service by minority groups would be held on 6 July 2015. This “Commissioners Dialogue - Treat Customers Fairly - Sharing from Equal Opportunities Commission” gains strong support from different sectors.

Enthusiastic responses from banking practitioners have been received. Up to now, over 170 bank staffs from front office as well as those from offices of compliance or channel management, etc., have enrolled in the training. While speakers from EOC would elaborate the principles of the Treat Customers Fairly Charter and anti-discrimination ordinances including provision of goods, services and facilities, experienced social workers from the Hong Kong SKH Lady MacLehose Centre would also conduct case sharing on typical issues experienced by ethnic minorities in opening bank account. The principles of the Treat Customers Fairly Charter have been advocated by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and supported by HKAB and HKIB.

This seminar is one of the EOC’s ongoing efforts of developing partnership with the banking sector to promote a pluralistic and inclusive society free of discrimination. The EOC would continue to work closely with different sectors to understand and address the concerns of ethnic minorities and other minority groups in education, employment, social integration and getting goods, services and facilities.

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Equal Opportunities Commission
3 July 2015