A WIDE-RANGING bill which seeks to eliminate discrimination will be tabled to the Legislative Council in May despite a government call for deferral.
Independent legislator Anna Wu Hung-yuk said there was a pressing timetable and she needed to complete scrutiny of the bill before her Legco term ended in 1995.
But the lack of government support would mean possible delays in the setting up of a Human Rights Commission to settle complaints, she said.
''I tried my best to exclude any financial implications from the Equal Opportunities Bill - it can be introduced as soon as I am ready. It will not be delayed by the fact that the Government needs time for consultation.'' If endorsed, the bill will form a full-scale legal framework against the discrimination on the grounds of sexuality, race, disability, age, religious and political convictions and union membership, as well as criminal convictions.
Exception is provided for charities, religious bodies and voluntary bodies.
Ms Wu said the bill would not need any government expenditure and should not be affected by the outcome of departmental consultation.
Legislators and concerned groups will be consulted in March and the bill will be tabled to the Legislative Council for first reading by as early as May.