EOC chief responds to press allegations
Equal Opportunities Commission chairman Raymond Tang Yee-bong has called a special meeting of the board of commissioners in response to media allegations against him.
Mr Tang said yesterday that irrespective of whether rumours against the EOC lack substance, it was his duty to provide all relevant information to his staff and board of commissioners and explain the true situation to them.
He also expressed a wish for the EOC to be free of such rumours so it can 'get on with our work against discrimination'.
Chinese-language newspaper and magazine reports have alleged that Mr Tang has made too many overseas trips since he took over as chairman at the beginning of this year. Mr Tang has, however, made only two such trips - one to attend a United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights session on Hong Kong and another to Beijing on a three-day exchange programme with senior staff.
A proposed study-visit programme to other jurisdictions in preparation for the implementation of the anti-racism law was also criticised, as was the cost of lunches for members before EOC board meetings.
'Many of the accusations were based on incorrect facts but the chair felt it might create queries and felt the need to let people around him understand the facts,' a spokeswoman for the EOC said.
'He initiated a meeting, and the seven members who attended on short notice accepted the chair's explanation, but he is planning to call a special EOC meeting so all members can discuss the chair's explanation.'
Community organiser with the Society for Community Organisation (Soco) Wong Chi-yuen said even if the allegations were petty and incorrect, 'the credibility and reliability of the EOC is very important'.
