A SURVEY of 3,000 people is to be conducted to gauge the public's views on sex discrimination ahead of any action by the Government, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Michael Suen Ming-yeung, said yesterday.
Men and women across Hong Kong will be interviewed on their perceptions of equal opportunities and equality, said Mr Suen, who added that there were differences between the achievements of the sexes but refused to say if he thought there was discrimination.
Launching the Green Paper on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men - which examines the political, social and economic situation in Hong Kong - Mr Suen said the Government had an open mind on what action, if any, to take.
Any action on specific issues - such as an equal pay law or deciding to adhere to the more general United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) - would rely on public attitude, despite a motion passed by the Legislative Council last year urging the Government to sign the CEDAW.
''Legislative Councillors themselves are well versed in these particular subjects and they are aware of the facts, but these are not available to the man in the street,'' Mr Suen said.
''If you ask him if he really understands, the likelihood is that you will draw a blank. We want to increase public awareness so the public can give us views on which direction we should take.'' The survey was welcomed by women's groups and supporters who wanted reassurances that the survey would be truly independent.
But criticism of the paper, which began long before it was published, continued yesterday with complaints that the Government had said nothing useful.