Hong Kong ready for anti-discrimination laws to protect LGBT people - and government must act now, study says
Equal Opportunities Commission says public opinion has for the first time turned in favour of legislation to support sexual minorities
The Equal Opportunities Commission says the government should start discussing an anti-discrimination law to protect sexual minorities as public opinion had for the first time turned in favour of legislation.
The government will be under pressure to answer calls for legislation by the watchdog, especially as they contradict those made by a government advisory group less than a month ago.
Support for anti-discrimination legislation had doubled in the past decade according to an EOC study released yesterday – a trend in line with growing global consciousness on human rights and justice.
In the citywide representative phone survey of 1,000 people, 91.8 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 deemed legislation as necessary. Close to half of religious Hongkongers – traditionally the most opposed to such legislation – also indicated they supported a law to protect sexual minorities from discrimination.
“If there is no protection, we’ll still have discrimination ... and don’t underestimate its damage,” said commission chairman Dr York Chow Yat-ngok, who said a public consultation should be launched – not on whether to legislate but how to legislate.
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Far-reaching consequences in not taking action included losing local talent and failing to attract foreign talent – as the younger generation obviously saw this as an issue of social justice, he added.