Defiant Hong Kong bar operators want to invite equality watchdog chief to ladies’ night event
Angered by court ruling that charging men more than women at a club is gender discrimination, industry players plan to pool funds to fight such claims
A coalition of bar operators in Hong Kong has vowed to continue the practice of ladies’ nights and has made an open invitation to the chief of the city’s equality watchdog to join such an event after a court reached a controversial decision that charging men more than women for the same service at a club was gender discrimination.
Expressing frustration at the court ruling and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), the Hong Kong Bar and Club Association said on Thursday that industry players planned to pool money to form a legal team to fight any court claims it deems unfair in the future.
The association’s vice-chairman Chin Chun-wing said those in the industry felt angry about the court ruling.
“Ladies’ nights have been a tradition for years,” said Chin.
“We recommend [bars] to continue to hold ladies’ nights ... I welcome members of the Equal Opportunities Commission to come to ladies’ nights,” he added.