Direct action yielding results
I refer to your editorial of October 3 headlined, 'Equality for all'.
I agree with you that the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) should reinforce the message, by direct action and positive publicity, that discrimination will not be tolerated.
Let me explain what the EOC has been doing in terms of publicity and public education. We have adopted a four-pronged approach whereby we: Reach out to the public through a planned programme of publicity on TV, radio and the printed media.
Serve the target clients through a comprehensive educational programme of seminars/talks and publication of codes of practice on employment, good management practice series, newsletters, etc.
Involve community participation through a funding programme on activities promoting equal opportunities; and develop training modules for trainers, teachers, etc, on how to eliminate discrimination and achieve equality of opportunities.
Since our inception a year ago, we have spared no efforts in public education. We have: Published two codes of practice on employment under the relevant ordinances, four leaflets under the Good Management Practice Series and a quarterly newsletter, EOC News, which has a circulation of 100,000 copies to employers with at least 10 employees, labour unions, concern groups and related organisations.
Sent out educational letters to and conducted briefing sessions for publishers, advertising agencies and employment agencies on legislative provisions governing discriminatory advertisements and organised three large-scale seminars for educational institution administrators and human resources managers.
Given 211 talks to establishments and organisations on the requirements of the discrimination laws.
Organised weekly public talks on the Sex Discrimination Ordinance and the Disability Discrimination Ordinance.
In conjunction with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), produced a series of 13 radio programmes on topics relating to discrimination and equal opportunity, broadcast between July and October.
Provided resources to 30 projects, promoting equal opportunity in the local communities.
Developed and produced two training modules on 'Preventing and Dealing with Sexual Harassment' and 'Equal Opportunities for Women and Men at the Workplace'.
Looking ahead six months, we will publish a Code of Practice on Employment under the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance after public consultation, eight leaflets under the Good Management Practice Series, a training module on disability discrimination. We plan to organise at least six large-scale seminars with major employer groups and conduct monthly workshops on discrimination legislation. We have been working with RTHK on a TV drama series on equal opportunities issues, expected to be broadcast in February 1998.
We are mindful of the need to work in partnership with concern groups, trade unions and other interested parties. We have maintained close liaison with them and invited them to refer discrimination complaints to us or act as representative complainants on behalf of the aggrieved persons. As a matter of fact, the Democratic Party has referred six recruitment adverts to the EOC for investigation.
In the past 12 months, we dealt with more than 4,700 inquiries and some 420 complaints of which 360 cases involved employment matters. The increasing trend from month to month is indicative of the growing awareness of the public of discrimination issues. We believe our direct action and positive publicity are yielding results.
We welcome constructive views from the community and invite concern groups and interested parties to join hands with us in eliminating discrimination and promoting equal opportunities.
FANNY MUI-CHING CHEUNG Chairperson Equal Opportunities Commission
