Height and weight limits should be dropped, says anti-discrimination commission

Proposals to force the disciplinary forces to stop sex discrimination have been drawn up by the Equal Opportunities Commission.

The commission said it was wrong to stipulate weight and height limits and that there should no longer be differences in equipment carried and uniforms worn by men and women.

'Both genders should be treated equally and equality of opportunity should extend to women in the disciplinary services,' said Dr Fanny Cheung Mui-ching, commission chairwoman.

She gave as an example of 'outmoded attitudes' the fact that the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force gave preference in recruitment to the widows of police officers.

'This type of discrimination is based on outmoded and stereotypical attitudes to women which are unfair,' she said.

Dr Cheung said height and weight were unrelated to a person's fitness.

'The disciplinary forces should specify what the requirements of the jobs are and recruit persons who are best able to fulfil those requirements.' But Lau Kam-wah, chairman of the Junior Police Officers' Association, said changes might lead to less able officers.

The commission also proposed to eliminate discrimination against indigenous women villagers under the Small House Policy.

The policy, which grants land to build a village house to male indigenous villagers, violated the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, it said.

'The policy fails to reflect the changes and developments in the law regarding women owning properties in the New Territories, nor the changes in the economic situation of the indigenous villages,' Dr Cheung said.

Citizens Party chairwoman and legislator Christine Loh Kung-wai welcomed the proposal, believing the Government should abolish the policy.

Lau Wong-fat, chairman of Heung Yee Kuk, who has opposed extending land privileges to indigenous women, declined to comment.

The commission believes the disciplinary forces and Small House Policy should not be exempt from the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, enacted in 1995.

It has proposed to the Government that the exemption be dropped.