Equal Opportunities Commission
2020
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EOC Teams with NGOs to Launch Virtual Exhibition of over 130 Photos from Underrepresented Communities
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) announced today (22 December 2020) the launch of a new online campaign entitled “The Way We Are” (www.eoc.org.hk/s/thewayweare/en/home.asp), a virtual exhibition of over 130 original photographic works contributed by marginalised groups, including people living with depression, deaf people, people with visual challenges, ethnic minority students, foreign domestic workers, carers, immigrant women from mainland China, and the LGBT community.
22/12/2020
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EOC Gives Legal Assistance to a Foreign Domestic Helper in a Disability Discrimination Case
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has today (22 December 2020) issued legal proceedings under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO), Cap. 487 in the District Court, on behalf of a foreign domestic helper (the Claimant). The Claimant alleged that her former employer (the Respondent) discriminated against her by terminating her employment on the ground of her disability (i.e. cervical cancer) and related sick leave.
22/12/2020
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EOC Launches MTR Advertising Campaign to Promote Racial Equality & Integration
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (17 December 2020) announced the start of an MTR advertising campaign to promote racial equality and integration. The campaign will be rolled out in three phases over the next 36 weeks. During that time, three MTR trains carrying advertisements on the cabin door glass panels with messages of racial equality and integration will run on the Island Line, Kwun Tong Line and Tsuen Wan Line.
17/12/2020
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EOC Launches First-ever Equal Opportunity Employer Recognition Scheme in Hong Kong: Equality and Inclusion Crucial for Resilience against Pandemic
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) announced today (4 November 2020) the launch of the Equal Opportunity Employer Recognition Scheme (the “Scheme”), as the Commission is heading towards its 25th anniversary in 2021. Organised for the first time by the EOC, the Scheme – open for application from now until 31 January 2021 – is the first-ever employer recognition scheme on equal opportunities in Hong Kong. Designed to give recognition to companies and organisations that have excelled in the implementation of equal opportunity employment policies, the Scheme is set to take the standards of equality, diversity and inclusion in Hong Kong’s workplace to a new level.
04/11/2020
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EOC Releases Findings of a Study on Public Attitudes Towards Female Political Leadership
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (7 October 2020) released the findings of “A Study on Public Attitudes towards Female Political Leadership”, which found that about half of the general public participated in the survey regarded “domestic responsibilities”, “traditional attitudes of gender roles”, and “double standards between genders to prove themselves” as the three major obstacles encountered by women specifically in their way seeking political leadership.
07/10/2020
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EOC Responds to Media Enquiries
In response to media enquiries about whether a notice posted by a restaurant stating that it refuses to serve participants of the Universal Community Testing Programme (UCTP) is unlawful under the anti-discrimination ordinances, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) released the following statement today (31 August 2020):
31/08/2020
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EOC Launches New Corporate Video and Video on Complaint Handling and Conciliation
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) launches a new corporate video and a new video on complaint handling and conciliation today (31 July 2020) in order to help members of the public to have better understanding of the protected areas of the four anti-discrimination ordinances, and the work of the EOC, especially the handling of complaints and conciliation.
31/07/2020
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EOC Promotes Equal Opportunities through Funding Programme
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) promotes equal opportunities through its Community Participation Funding Programme on Equal Opportunities.
10/07/2020
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EOC Welcomes Passage of Employment (Amendment) Bill 2019
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) welcomes the passage of the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2019 in the Legislative Council today (9 July 2020). The Bill includes the increase of the statutory maternity leave under the Employment Ordinance from the current 10 weeks to 14 weeks. The additional maternity leave pay will be funded by the Government and the subsidy limit is $80,000 per employee.
09/07/2020
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EOC Responds to Persons with Disabilities and Rehabilitation Programme Plan
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) welcomes the Persons with Disabilities and Rehabilitation Programme Plan (RPP) published by the Labour and Welfare Bureau last week. The RPP formulated by the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC) outlines 62 strategic recommendations related to persons with disabilities (PWDs). The EOC is pleased that recommendations made by organisations of PWDs and the general public during the consultation have been incorporated into the RPP, such as changing the name from the Rehabilitation Programme Plan to the Disabilities and Rehabilitation Programme Plan (RPP) to highlight the importance of issues facing PWDs; formalising the establishment of the Special Needs Trust for people with intellectual disabilities, mental disorders or autism addressed at EOC’s Seminar on Rights and Challenges of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in 2018; enhancing the statutory staffing requirements of residential care homes (RCHs), upward adjustment of the statutory minimum area of floor space per resident, strengthening the accountability of licensees of RCHs; engaging the EOC to strengthen publicity and promotion of the guidance on reasonable accommodation and enhance employers' understanding of the guidance and the promotion of reasonable accommodation in the workplace; as well as addressing the need for participation of PWDs in recreational, sports and cultural arts activities in the RPP for the first time.
09/07/2020
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EOC Releases Findings of A Study on Education and Career Pathways of Ethnic Minority Youth in Hong Kong
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (22 June 2020) released the findings of “A Study on Education and Career Pathways of Ethnic Minority (EM) Youth in Hong Kong”.
22/06/2020
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EOC Welcomes the Discrimination Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2020 Coming into Force
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) welcomes the gazettal of the Discrimination Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2020 (“Ordinance”) today (19 June 2020), following the passage of the Discrimination Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2018 by the Legislative Council on 11 June 2020. All provisions in the Ordinance came into force today, except the provisions making breastfeeding discrimination unlawful. Those provisions will come into force one year later on 19 June 2021.
19/06/2020
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EOC Welcomes Passage of Discrimination Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2018
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) welcomes the passage of the Discrimination Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2018 in the Legislative Council today (11 June 2020).
11/06/2020
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EOC Promotes Equal Opportunities through Funding Programme of Research Projects
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) promotes equal opportunities through its Funding Programme of Research Projects. Following the success of the first and second rounds of “The Funding Programme of Research Projects on Equal Opportunities” (the Funding Programme) carried out in 2013/14 and 2017/18 respectively, the EOC is launching the third one in 2020/21 which continues to encourage eligible academics and organizations with inspiring ideas to undertake innovative research projects.
01/06/2020
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EOC Gives Legal Assistance in a Family Status Discrimination Case
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has today (25 May 2020) issued legal proceedings under the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance (FSDO), Cap. 527 in the District Court, on behalf of a woman (the Claimant) who previously worked for a company (the Respondent) as Senior Art Director. The Claimant claimed that the Respondent dismissed her on the ground of her family status.
25/05/2020
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EOC Responds to Media Enquiries
In response to media enquiries about whether a reporter’s remarks constitute sexual harassment during a media organisation’s online news broadcast on 10 May 2020, the Equal Opportunities Commission(EOC) issued the following statement today (13 May 2020):
13/05/2020
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The EOC Gives Legal Assistance in a Disability Discrimination Case
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has today (12 May 2020) issued legal proceedings under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO), Cap. 487 in the District Court, on behalf of a person (the Claimant) who previously worked for a company (the Respondent) as an Accounting and Administrative Officer. The Claimant claimed that the Respondent discriminated against her by terminating her employment on the ground of her disability (i.e. her left olecranon fracture and related sick leave).
12/05/2020
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The EOC Welcomes New Member and Extends Gratitude to Outgoing Member
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) welcomes the announcement by the Government today (8 May 2020) on the appointment of Mr Simon LAM Ken-chung as a new Member and the re-appointment of existing Member, Dr Sigmund LEUNG Sai-man by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. (Please refer to the Appendix on the list of the Membership of the EOC.)
08/05/2020
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Appointment of members of Equal Opportunities Commission (Issued by the Government of the Hong Kong SAR)
The Government announced today (May 8) that the Chief Executive has appointed a new member and re-appointed an incumbent member to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) for a term of two years with effect from May 20, 2020.
08/05/2020
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The EOC Gives Legal Assistance in a Disability Harassment Case
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has today (15 April 2020) issued legal proceedings under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO), Cap. 487 in the District Court, on behalf of a minor (the Claimant), who is represented by his father. The Claimant is a patient of Tourette syndrome. His symptoms include motor tics, such as involuntary movements of wrist, shoulder, head and rolling eyes. The Claimant’s main allegations are that the four Respondents who were his classmates at the material time, had harassed him on account of his disabilities. The Respondents often mimicked his motor tics caused by Tourette syndrome and made insulting verbal remarks about his tics in front of other students.
15/04/2020
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EOC Launches Online Resources to Support Learning and Promote Inclusion during COVID-19 Pandemic
In view of the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, classes of all schools will continue to be suspended until further notice. The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education will also be postponed to start on 24 April 2020. Joining the effort of minimising disruption to students’ education, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has produced an updated learning kit to accompany the 16 documentary videos on its YouTube channel. The learning kit would serve as a valuable online learning resource as different sectors of society, including students working on their Independent Enquiry Study Projects for Liberal Studies, have expressed an increasing interest in issues of equality and discrimination.
09/04/2020
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Media Statement: Response to Remarks Made by the Hon LAM Cheuk-ting
In regard to the remarks made by the Hon LAM Cheuk-ting while discussing with the Chief Superintendent of Police (Planning and Development), Hong Kong Police Force Ms Alice LEE Nga-lai at the Legislative Council Finance Committee meeting on 6 March 2020, during which Mr Lam, when quoting an example, asked whether she had engaged in prostitution during Police undercover operation, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) issued today (10 March 2020) the following statement:
10/03/2020
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Media Statement: About District Councillors Posting Notice outside their Office
In regard to the media statement by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) on 6 March 2020, which was issued in response to media enquiries about District Councillors reportedly putting up a notice outside their office saying “We do not serve blue ribbons” and “No blue ribbons and dogs allowed”, the EOC further issued today (10 March 2020) the following statement:
10/03/2020
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EOC Responds to Media Enquiries about District Councillors Posting Notice outside their Office
In response to media enquiries about a District Councillor reportedly putting up a notice outside the office saying “We do not serve ‘blue ribbons’” and “No ‘blue ribbons’ and dogs allowed” in Chinese, and whether the act violates any of the four anti-discrimination ordinances currently in place, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) issued the following statement today (6 March 2020)
06/03/2020
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EOC Responds to Media Enquiries about Online Comments
In response to media enquiries, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) released the following statement today (28 February 2020):
28/02/2020
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Media Statement about Online Comments Regarding COVID-19
In response to media enquiries about whether recent online comments on the case of a police officer infected by COVID-19 violate the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO) and constitute “disability vilification”, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) released the following statement today (25 February 2020):
25/02/2020
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EOC Responds to Media Enquiries about a Restaurant’s Social Media Post
In response to media enquiries about a social media post published by a restaurant stating that it received a call from an officer of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) on 14 February 2020, during which the restaurant was asked to remove a notice about a discriminatory practice against certain customers, or else it would face prosecution, the EOC released the following statement today (16 February 2020), as the post has raised doubts, directly or indirectly, over the Commission’s handling of the matter:
16/02/2020
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EOC Urges Reason and Empathy in Dealing with People and Facilities Related to the Novel Coronavirus
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) expresses concern over recent scuffles in various districts sparked by the Government’s plan to set up quarantine centres and designated clinics to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. The EOC urges the public to approach the matter with reason and empathy, as a “not-in-my-backyard” (NIMBY) attitude towards the facilities would serve only to delay help for persons affected by the virus and undercut efforts to bring the epidemic under control.
11/02/2020
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EOC Promotes Equal Opportunities through Funding Programme
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) promotes inclusion and equal opportunities through its Community Participation Funding Programme on Equal Opportunities.
22/01/2020
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EOC Opposes All Forms of Online Bullying and Discrimination
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) expresses grave concern over recent comments on various social media pages attacking the race and skin colour of a female journalist. The EOC is staunchly against all forms of verbal abuse and online bullying, and believes that no one should be discriminated against, harassed or vilified because of their sex, race, disability, family status, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. Any expression or exchange of opinion should be rational and follow the principle of mutual respect.
21/01/2020
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The EOC Releases the Findings of “A Study on the Challenges Faced by Mainstream Schools in Educating Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong”
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (20 January 2020) released the findings of “A Study on the Challenges Faced by Mainstream Schools in Educating Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong”.
20/01/2020
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The Equal Opportunities Commission’s Response to Findings of a Telephone Survey Titled “Public Attitudes Towards LGBT+ Legal Rights in Hong Kong 2019/20”
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) notes that the Sexualities Research Programme at The Chinese University of Hong Kong has released the findings of a telephone survey titled “Public Attitudes towards LGBT+ Legal Rights in Hong Kong 2019/20” today (7 January 2020).
07/01/2020
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