Legco hopeful Lam Yi-lai sparks racism row over helpers' holidays
Call to deny foreign domestic workers time off at Chinese holidays may be illegal, watchdog says
A candidate for next month's Legislative Council election is at the centre of a racism row over her campaign call for Hong Kong's 300,000 foreign domestic helpers to be denied traditional Chinese public holidays.
The government could also be in hot water for allowing the production of election material that may be in breach of the city's racial discrimination laws, says the Equal Opportunities Commission.
Lam Yi-lai, an independent candidate standing in the Kowloon West constituency, was cautioned by the commission after minority-rights group Unison filed a complaint last week.
The commission says Lam and the government could be in breach of the Race Discrimination Ordinance for distributing offensive election pamphlets.
The pamphlets suggest that for "Hongkongers' benefit and family enjoyment", domestic helpers should not be given days off for the Lunar New Year, Ching Ming festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Chung Yeung festival because they are not holidays meaningful to "foreigners".
A commission spokesman said: "The EOC will write to the candidate to warn her about the potential breach of the Race Discrimination Ordinance, as her idea of depriving non-Chinese domestic helpers of their rights could be racially discriminatory.