Equal Opportunities Commission
2023
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EOC Chairperson Visits a Mock Polling Station ahead of District Council Election
Mr Ricky CHU Man-kin, Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) visited a mock polling station in North Point Community Hall today (5 December 2023) to review the facilitation measures for electors with special needs ahead of the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election on 10 December 2023.
05/12/2023
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EOC Co-hosts Anti-Sexual Harassment in Workplace Forum with Zonta Club of Kowloon and HKSME Association
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (27 November 2023) co-organised a forum on the prevention of workplace sexual harassment with Zonta Club of Kowloon and Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises (HKSME) Association. The event aimed to improve awareness and understanding of the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Hong Kong.
27/11/2023
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EOC Gives Legal Assistance in a Disability Discrimination and Dismissal Case Related to COVID-19
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (14 November 2023) issued legal proceedings under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO), Cap. 487 in the District Court, on behalf of a person (the Claimant) who worked as a head chef for the Respondent, a company within a Restaurant Group (Group) which operates multiple restaurants in Hong Kong. The Claimant alleged that the Respondent discriminated against him by terminating his employment on the ground of his disability (i.e. fever and upper respiratory tract infection “URTI” and manifestation of the COVID-19 infection).
14/11/2023
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EOC Holds Event to Celebrate Fifth Anniversary of the Racial D&I Employer Charter
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (3 November 2023) celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Racial Diversity & Inclusion Charter for Employers (the “Charter”) with an event attended by signatories. Over 100 guests attended the event entitled “Racial DEI Progress: Gains, Gaps & Goals” at HSBC, the same venue where the Charter was launched in 2018, and engaged in discussions on the subject of racial diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the workplace.
03/11/2023
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EOC Releases Hong Kong’s First “Practical Guide on Universal Design for Catering Services” to Meet Diverse Customer Needs
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) held a press conference today (30 October 2023) to release Hong Kong’s first “Practical Guide on Universal Design for Catering Services (the “Guide”). In view of the lack of accessible facilities and difficulties encountered by people with disabilities (PWDs) in enjoying dining services, as relayed by various rehabilitation and self-help organisations of PWDs, the EOC has produced the Guide to offer practical guidelines for the catering industry on serving diners with different needs and points to note in providing accommodation.
30/10/2023
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Equal Opportunities Commission Welcomes The Chief Executive’s Policy Address 2023
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) welcomes the wide array of policy initiatives on safeguarding harmony and stability set out in the Chief Executive’s Policy Address 2023.
26/10/2023
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EOC Launches the Equal Opportunity Youth Ambassador Scheme 2023/24
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (19 October 2023) announced the launch of the Equal Opportunity Youth Ambassador Scheme 2023/24. The Scheme aims to recruit and train full-time tertiary students to become Equal Opportunity Youth Ambassadors, foster the spirit of diversity and inclusion among the younger generation, and encourage young people to promote the message of equal opportunities among their peers. Interested students can apply for the Scheme starting from today. The deadline for application is 16 November 2023.
19/10/2023
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EOC Hosts Seminar to Foster Bias-free Coverage of Mental Health Issues in Media
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (28 September 2023) hosted the Seminar on Media Reporting of Mental Health Issues with support from the Advisory Committee on Mental Health and the Hong Kong News Executives’ Association. Organised in response to increased media and public attention on mental health, the event at the Duke of Windsor Social Service Building brought together around 100 frontline journalists, editors, academics, health professionals, persons with mental health needs and service providers of social support services for people with mental health needs to explore ways of fostering bias-free coverage of mental health issues in local media.
28/09/2023
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EOC Expresses Concerns Over Allegations of Sexual Harassment at University Orientation Camps
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) expresses deep concerns over recent media reports of sexual harassment incidents at university orientation camps.
05/09/2023
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EOC Announces the 2023/24 Racially Friendly Campus Recognition Scheme for Schools
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (4 September 2023) announced the launch of the 2023/24 Racially Friendly Campus Recognition Scheme for Schools. Following the inaugural success, the second edition of the Scheme will run for an extended period starting from the new 2023/24 school year in September 2023 and culminating in April 2024. It will also cover a wider scope to include activities that promote inclusion of people from different regional cultures and places of origins, such as new immigrants, residents and non-residents from different parts of Mainland China.
04/09/2023
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EOC Welcomes District Court’s Ruling on a Pregnancy Discrimination Case
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) welcomes today (17 August 2023) the District Court’s ruling (DCEO 16/2019) in favour of a woman (the “Claimant”) unlawfully discriminated against by her employer because of her pregnancy.
17/08/2023
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Equal Opportunities Commission Calls for Application for the 2023-24 Community Participation Funding Programme on Equal Opportunities
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (7 August 2023) announced that the 2023-24 Community Participation Funding Programme on Equal Opportunities (Funding Programme) is open for application. The Funding Programme consists of two categories, namely “General Projects” and “Thematic Projects”, with a maximum amount of funding set at HK$100,000 and HK$150,000 respectively for each project. Interested parties are invited to submit their applications to the EOC on or before 19 September 2023.
07/08/2023
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EOC Welcomes District Court Ruling on a Sexual Harassment Case
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (28 July 2023) welcomes the District Court’s judgment on the assessment of damages in a case (DCEO10/2021) where a female Event Coordinator of a recreation club (the Claimant) was sexually harassed on multiple occasions by the male Operations Manager (the Respondent) at the time when they were both working at the club.
28/07/2023
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EOC Launches the “Open Your Doors to Tenants of All Ethnicities” MTR Advertising Campaign to Promote Racial Equality in Tenancy
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) launched an MTR cabin advertising campaign with the tagline “Open Your Doors to Tenants of All Ethnicities” on 6 July 2023 to promote racial equality in tenancy. This is a continuation of the campaign which ran on 50 buses last December. The MTR campaign features two posters, which are displayed in three trains running on the Kwun Tong, Island and Tsuen Wan Lines respectively for 12 weeks.
11/07/2023
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EOC Stages Recognition Ceremony for Racially Inclusive Schools
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) commended 60 schools for taking part in the Racially Friendly Campus Recognition Scheme and promoting racial equality at a recognition ceremony today (7 July 2023). The scheme, which was launched for the first time this March to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and ran for two months, encouraged schools to promote racial inclusion and diversity on their campuses through student activities and publicity campaigns.
07/07/2023
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EOC Releases Findings of Study on Challenges, Effective Policies and Best Practices of Ordinary Schools in Educating Students with Special Educational Needs in Hong Kong
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) released today (29 June 2023) the findings of the Study on Challenges, Effective Policies and Best Practices of Ordinary Schools in Educating Students with Special Educational Needs in Hong Kong (the Study). The Study aims to examine the effectiveness of the current integrated education (IE) in primary and secondary schools in depth and provide relevant policy suggestions for the future development of IE.
29/06/2023
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EOC Gives Legal Assistance in a Disability Discrimination Case
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has today (27 June 2023) 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 cake shop as a Shop Assistant. The Claimant claimed that the 1st Respondent (the shop owner), together with the 2nd Respondent (director of the 1st Respondent) and 3rd Respondent (direct supervisor of the Claimant), discriminated against her on the ground of her disability (i.e. acute lower back pain) by subjecting her to a series of discriminatory treatments (including harassment) after she returned to work from sick leave, before terminating her employment.
27/06/2023
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EOC Releases Findings of Study on Effective Strategies to Facilitate School-to-work Transition of Young Persons with Disabilities in Hong Kong
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) released today (5 June 2023) the findings of the Study on Effective Strategies to Facilitate School-to-work Transition of Young Persons with Disabilities in Hong Kong (the Study). The study aims to explore the experiences of young persons with disabilities (PWDs) as they transition from secondary/post-secondary education to work, identify mechanisms and make concrete policy recommendations on institutional support to facilitate their successful transition.
05/06/2023
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The Inaugural Equal Opportunity Youth Ambassador Scheme Concludes Successfully
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (3 June 2023) held the Recognition Ceremony of the “Equal Opportunity Youth Ambassador Scheme” to signify the completion of this six-month programme by 35 tertiary students. Commissioner for Youth Mr Wallace LAU Ka-ki was invited as the Guest of Honour of the ceremony, along with EOC Members and representatives from various tertiary institutions.
03/06/2023
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EOC Launches “Under the Same Sky” Short Movie Series to Highlight Importance of Eliminating Discrimination and Prejudice
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (11 May 2023) announced the launch of the short movie series “Under the Same Sky” on Mother’s Day (14 May 2023) to promote equal opportunities and the values of diversity and inclusion.
11/05/2023
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The EOC Welcomes New Members and Extends Gratitude to Outgoing Members
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) welcomes the Government announcement today (5 May 2023) on the appointment of five new Members to the EOC by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. They will serve a two-year term with effect from 20 May 2023. The newly appointed Members are:
05/05/2023
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The EOC Launches the “Racially Friendly Customer Services for All” Bus Body Advertising Campaign
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (28 April 2023) announced the start of a bus body advertising campaign to promote racially friendly services that will run for six weeks. During this period, 100 buses will carry advertisements on their sides with messages encouraging goods and services providers to ensure they cater to the needs of diverse customers in an equal and friendly manner. The bus body advertising is a continuation of the 2022 campaign under the same tagline which ran in MTR cabins for 12 weeks.
28/04/2023
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The EOC Rolls out a Host of Initiatives to Mark IDERD 2023
To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) 2023, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) is rolling out a series of initiatives under the theme “All Races as One”. A bus body advertising campaign was launched on 13 March followed by an MTR advertising campaign beginning on 16 March. The advertisements on both modes of transport carry the tagline, “Interrupt Bias. All Races as One.” Fifty buses along various routes will display the advertisement for six weeks. The MTR campaign will also run for six weeks on three trains plying on the Island Line, Kwun Tong Line and Tsuen Wan Line.
21/03/2023
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The EOC Gives Legal Assistance to a Foreign Domestic Helper in a Sexual Harassment Case
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has today (1 March 2023) instituted legal proceedings under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance (SDO), Cap. 480 in the District Court, on behalf of a foreign domestic helper (the Claimant) who says that her former employer (the Respondent) sexually harassed her on a number of occasions during her employment with him, including coming up close to sniff the fragrance of her hair and body after she had taken a shower.
01/03/2023
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EOC Releases the Findings of the Study on Perceptions of Stigmatization and Discrimination of Persons with Mental Illness in the Workplace
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today (28 February 2023) released the findings of the “Study on Perceptions of Stigmatization and Discrimination of Persons with Mental Illness (PMIs) in the Workplace” (the Study).
28/02/2023
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EOC Inaugurates the "Equal Opportunity Youth Ambassador Scheme" and Shares its Vision with Enthusiastic Youth Ambassadors
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) held its first event under the "Equal Opportunity Youth Ambassador Scheme" yesterday (7 January 2023) and shared its vision and work on promoting equal opportunities for a group of enthusiastic young people.
08/01/2023