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EOC Responds to Media Enquiries

15/05/2019

 
In response to media enquiries about the petitions of several groups at the Office of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) to express disapproval of the Legislator, the Hon WU Chi-wai, for using a disrespectful expression to address Chief Executive Carrie LAM CHENG Yuet-ngor during the Chief Executive's Question and Answer Session at the Legislative Council on 9 May 2019, the EOC has the following response:
 
  1. Several groups petitioned at the EOC Office on 14 and 15 May 2019 to express disapproval of the Legislator, the Hon WU Chi-wai, for using a disrespectful expression to address Chief Executive Carrie LAM CHENG Yuet-ngor during the Chief Executive's Question and Answer Session at the Legislative Council on 9 May 2019.
  2. It is unlawful under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance (SDO) to discriminate against a person on the grounds of sex, marital status or pregnancy in prescribed areas of activities, including employment, education, provision of goods, services and/or facilities, etc.
  3. As the incident is not covered under the prescribed areas of the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, the EOC is unable to follow up on the incident and handle the relevant complaints.
  4. Although the EOC has no jurisdiction to handle the complaints about the remarks made by the Hon WU Chi-wai, the EOC considers that the remarks were inappropriate, neither polite nor respectful of the other party, and directed at the female identity of the Chief Executive. They violate core values of gender equality and mutual respect between the two sexes in today's society. The EOC believes that parliamentary discussions must be conducted in a peaceful and respectful manner, and that rude, disrespectful or derogatory language denigrating females should not be used.
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Equal Opportunities Commission
15 May 2019
 
 
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