Study to shed light on sex discrimination: Equal Opportunities Commission

The city is embarking on a study into gender bias and the feasibility of laws to protect the rights of sexual minorities, the anti-discrimination watchdog says.

The independent research will cover practical scenarios that sexual minorities encounter, including in school or the workplace, and their access to public services.

It would be completed by the beginning of next year, the Equal Opportunities Commission said.

Chinese University's gender studies centre, which is assigned to the job, has its work cut out: three public forums, each involving about 400 people; focus groups with participants offering a range of views; telephone surveys; and analysis of legal issues.

"We're braced for the task," said Ferrick Chu Chung-man, head of policy and research at the commission.

The watchdog is filling a gap in studying the issue of protecting and empowering LGBT, or lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as gay-rights activists have criticised the government for procrastinating on developing the relevant laws. Instead of putting the issue to public consultation, the government set up a committee last June to advise on sex discrimination.

Chu said he expected to see groups ready to discredit the study as biased and beyond the commission's jurisdiction, given its stance that legislation would protect sexual minorities from discrimination.