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SCMP Reporter

A leadership vacuum has formed in the Equal Opportunities Commission as Raymond Tang Yee-bong completed his five-year term yesterday, with the government yet to appoint a new chairman.
It is the first time that the EOC has been without a chairman in its 13-year history. 
The appointment of the  commission chief used to be a controversial one. Former chairwoman Anna Wu Hung-yuk was given a one-year contract extension five days before her term ended in 2002.
A Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau spokeswoman yesterday said no appointment at the EOC had been made up to yesterday but one was expected soon.
It was not clear who would be acting head but the spokeswoman said that 'no vacuum of authority will occur in the EOC' as the commission 'will have appropriate administrative arrangements to ensure its smooth operation'.
The government launched a recruitment drive for a full-time chairman for the commission in September.
A five-member selection board, chaired by executive councillor Dr Leong Che-hung, was appointed for the recruitment.
The post has attracted 44 applicants and a headhunting firm hired for the recruitment has identified 49 professionals with the relevant experience as possible candidates. 
The next chairman will have a three-year contract with a basic salary of HK$202,000 a month.
The initial selection process is understood to have been completed and a list of candidates submitted to the government for a decision. 
Rights groups, members of the EOC and academics said the government should give the public an explanation on the leadership vacuum at the commission, as the administration had had plenty of time to recruit a new chairman. 
The power vacuum was 'a dissatisfying and disappointing situation', commission member and lawmaker Frederick Fung Kin-kee said. 
The commission 'might not be paralysed without a chairman but decisions on important policies to improve the anti-discrimination situation cannot be made', Fung said.
Chinese University political scientist Ma Ngok was surprised at the situation at the EOC as the government had a lot of time to choose a suitable candidate. 'The administration should give the public an explanation on this,' he said.
Fermi Wong Wai-fun, the campaign director of ethnic minorities rights group Unison, said she regretted hearing of the power vacuum at the EOC. It showed the government's lack of respect on the promotion of equal opportunities, she said. 
Human Rights Monitor director Law Yuk-kai hopes the government can appoint a capable chairman soon as much needs to be done in fighting racial discrimination, including finalising guidelines on ethnic equality for government departments. 
'This is first time a leadership vacuum has existed in the EOC since it was established on 1996,' Law said.



EOC without leadership as chief bows out