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SCMP Reporter

Apple Daily will call on an expert in Chinese characters to prove the paper did not advertise for 'several pretty female reporters', it emerged yesterday.

 The Equal Opportunities Commission is using new anti-discriminatory laws for the first time to challenge the daily over the advertisement, which appeared on May 9.

 The two sides met in the District Court yesterday for a hearing in chambers in front of Judge Wong Hing-chun.

 Afterwards the commission's lawyer, Gerard McCoy SC, said Apple planned to use a language expert to contest the meaning of the words.

 All future hearings would take place in open court, he said.

 The commission's senior equal opportunities officer, Mariana Law Po-chu, said the paper could be fined if found guilty.

 'The maximum penalty is $10,000 for a first offence and $30,000 for every further offence,' she said.

 A writ was filed on September 1 claiming the job vacancy was biased against men and illegal under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance.

 The commission's gender director, Priscilla Sik Ka-yin, said at the time the action was based on the word 'female' and had nothing to do with the preference for 'pretty' reporters. According to the commission, the post was for journalists to report on social events.

 The Registrar of the District Court has not yet set a date for the next hearing.

 Under the laws, which took effect last December, employers can no longer cite a candidate's sex, marital status or lack of disability as a condition of employment - although they can specify race or age.



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