https://www.scmp.com/rss/322480/feed EOC stands for the Equal Opportunities Commission. It is a Hong Kong statutory body responsible for implementing ordinances meant to eliminate discrimination based on disability, family status, race and gender. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The prevalence of sexual harassment in the workplace has long been recognised in Hong Kong but the problem has persisted. Figures revealed this month show that 207 such complaints were made to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) last year, a 33 per cent increase on 2024. The rise does not necessarily mean more harassment is taking place. It might be an encouraging sign that victims are more willing to take action. But the statistics show that sexual misconduct at places of work continues to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350417/employers-must-tackle-office-culture-harassment-complaints-spike?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350417/employers-must-tackle-office-culture-harassment-complaints-spike?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Workplace sexual harassment complaints in Hong Kong have jumped by 33 per cent year on year, according to the equality watchdog. The Equal Opportunities Commission recorded a total of 315 sexual harassment complaints in 2025, 38 per cent more than 228 in the previous year, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said in a written response to legislative inquiries on Thursday. Among them, employment-related harassment complaints climbed from 156 in 2024 to 207 last year, an increase of 33... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349562/workplace-sexual-harassment-complaints-jump-38-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349562/workplace-sexual-harassment-complaints-jump-38-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:26:47 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The digital divide is most commonly associated with older citizens and the difficulties they have using apps for services that need to be more accessible to them. Thanks to research by a team from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), it emerges that Hong Kong has another digital divide – among ethnic minority groups – that crosses age groups. Given that Hong Kong is an ethnically diverse and multicultural society where east meets west, as well as a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348928/hong-kong-must-help-ethnic-minority-groups-bridge-digital-divide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348928/hong-kong-must-help-ethnic-minority-groups-bridge-digital-divide?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:45:10 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong (MAIHK) and Chinese University of Hong Kong’s (CUHK) latest survey is a wake-up call: 43.5 per cent of Gen Z respondents reported moderate to severe depression. Researchers also found a positive correlation between screen time and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348107/start-early-connect-deeply-addressing-gen-zs-mental-health-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348107/start-early-connect-deeply-addressing-gen-zs-mental-health-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Members of Hong Kong’s ethnic minority groups enjoy near-universal access to digital devices but are not benefiting as much as they could from online services, the equality watchdog has said, urging the government to harness AI to provide multilingual support and simplify app registration. In a study released on Thursday on improving the digital divide among ethnic minority groups, Equal Opportunities Commission chairwoman Linda Lam Mei-sau said members of the community primarily used electronic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348032/official-apps-pose-hurdles-hong-kongs-ethnic-minority-groups-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348032/official-apps-pose-hurdles-hong-kongs-ethnic-minority-groups-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:26:38 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li A storm over online abuse has cast a shadow over Man Kiu Association Primary School’s breakthrough run at the All-Hong Kong Inter-Primary Schools seven-a-side football competition held before Chinese New Year. After racking up several victories over rival schools, especially after a 6-0 win that got them to the quarter-finals, the team received abusive comments and complaints about the physical size and height of their players. Several non-Chinese players, in particular, became targets of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3347871/primary-school-football-players-principal-undeterred-online-abuse-during-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3347871/primary-school-football-players-principal-undeterred-online-abuse-during-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:50:14 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Young people can opt to make self-declarations to be exempted from producing proof of address to register as electors under a new Hong Kong government drive to boost voter numbers, lawmakers have been told. A commissioner for oaths will be stationed at each Immigration Department registration of persons office, where young people replace their juvenile identity cards with adult ones upon turning 18. The initiative was outlined as officials presented the 2026 voter registration campaign at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346785/hong-kong-new-push-get-young-people-register-voters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346785/hong-kong-new-push-get-young-people-register-voters?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:33:01 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Hong Kong’s High Court has sentenced Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison for violating the national security law, following his conviction in December last year for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious materials. Some mainstream... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3343997/orderly-hong-kong-can-remain-open-and-outward-looking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3343997/orderly-hong-kong-can-remain-open-and-outward-looking?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Disabled residents and a former lawmaker have slammed Hong Kong’s town planning authorities for failing to consider accessibility needs and overlooking potential fire safety risks in an approved development plan for Wan Chai, calling for a review to make the area more barrier-free. Former social welfare sector lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen said on Thursday that the Town Planning Board-approved, high-density development plan covering Sau Wa Fong and Nam Koo Terrace failed to take into account its impact... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341717/town-planning-body-slammed-neglecting-disabled-people-over-wan-chai-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341717/town-planning-body-slammed-neglecting-disabled-people-over-wan-chai-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:14:33 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words I refer to the article, “Hong Kong urged to protect Sai Kung islands from overtourism, ecological damage” (October 3). Ecotourism urgently needs comprehensive management to be sustainable. Thailand’s Similan Islands are a case in point. They are open to visitors only for a few... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3329647/3-ways-hong-kong-can-keep-golden-goose-ecotourism-healthy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3329647/3-ways-hong-kong-can-keep-golden-goose-ecotourism-healthy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Years have passed since I left my hometown in Balochistan to pursue higher education, but my voice still carries my region: my accent, shaped by dust, distance and dialogue. It is not always embraced in urban cities, yet I wear it proudly. I once believed ideas and effort mattered... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3329210/what-world-loses-when-you-quietly-judge-people-their-accents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3329210/what-world-loses-when-you-quietly-judge-people-their-accents?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 03:30:09 +0000 Jimmy Chow Jimmy Chow Born and raised in Hong Kong, Sa’diyya Nesar has spent much of her life redefining what strength means. Living with a rare congenital muscle condition that requires a wheelchair, she has endured multiple surgeries and long hospital stays. Rather than letting disability confine her, she turned to writing and found her voice. “I started writing not only to cope with life’s difficulties but also to clear misconceptions about disability,” said Nesar, who graduated from the University of Hong Kong in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328742/meet-woman-breaking-barriers-disability-inclusion-empathy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328742/meet-woman-breaking-barriers-disability-inclusion-empathy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 03:15:08 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong’s equality watchdog has urged service providers and property managers to eliminate “invisible barriers” that impact residents with disabilities after conducting its first review of reported cases of discrimination. In addition to laying out eight recommendations for such organisations in a new guide, the Equal Opportunities Commission highlighted on Thursday some of the cases that had prompted the review. They included the case of a bus driver who refused to allow a wheelchair user to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328409/axe-invisible-barriers-affecting-people-disabilities-hong-kong-watchdog?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328409/axe-invisible-barriers-affecting-people-disabilities-hong-kong-watchdog?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 11:54:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The need to fulfil work commitments while looking after a family is a challenge familiar to many employees. It brings stresses and strains which often damage the health and well-being of both the worker and their relatives. Hong Kong is lagging behind in the provision of flexible family-friendly policies in the workplace. Around 90 per cent of human resources professionals reported their organisations lack relevant guidelines, according to an Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) survey. Up to 45... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3322186/family-friendly-workplaces-would-be-win-win-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3322186/family-friendly-workplaces-would-be-win-win-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 22:45:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong has come a long way in fighting discrimination. Relevant legislation has been in place since the 1990s, but that does not mean prejudice and bad practices have disappeared. Between 2022 and June 2025, the Equal Opportunities Commission received 222 complaints related to mental health, mostly involving dismissing an employee after learning about their mental health condition or when they had taken a certain amount of sick leave. Most cases were, thankfully, resolved through... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3321979/mental-health-support-guide-valuable-hong-kong-employers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3321979/mental-health-support-guide-valuable-hong-kong-employers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Aug 2025 22:45:07 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun About 90 per cent of human resources staff have said their organisations have not formulated policies or guidelines to help employees balance work and household burdens, Hong Kong’s equality watchdog has found, as it called for enhanced efforts to create more family-friendly workplaces. The Equal Opportunities Commission on Tuesday urged employers to establish written policies and allow for more flexible arrangements under inclement weather, while also urging the government to introduce more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3321618/90-hong-kong-hr-staff-say-family-friendly-policies-lacking-poll-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3321618/90-hong-kong-hr-staff-say-family-friendly-policies-lacking-poll-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 12:36:31 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong’s equality watchdog has launched a guide on supporting employees with mental health conditions in the workplace, recommending measures ranging from adopting flexible hours to having regular short breaks. The 30-page guide was issued on Tuesday by the Equal Opportunities Commission, which received 222 complaints of discrimination related to mental health conditions between 2022 and June 30, 2025. Doris Tsui Ue-ting, head of policy, research and training with the commission, said most... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3320038/hong-kong-equality-watchdog-issues-mental-health-workplace-support-guide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3320038/hong-kong-equality-watchdog-issues-mental-health-workplace-support-guide?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:24:38 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A former HSBC employee last week sued the bank for alleged racial discrimination, maintaining that he was ultimately sacked, among other instances of mistreatment, because of his black heritage, bringing the topic into the media spotlight. Former senior business analyst Robert Ngugi Tomkinson claimed an unspecified amount of damages for reputational damage, emotional distress and financial loss from HSBC Global Services (Hong Kong), with the legal action under the Race Discrimination Ordinance... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319172/facing-racial-discrimination-hong-kong-heres-what-you-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319172/facing-racial-discrimination-hong-kong-heres-what-you-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 11:11:53 +0000 Hongkonger Emily Chen* thought she had found the ideal workplace buddy when she relocated from London two years ago to join a private equity firm in the city as an analyst. The older, married man was an analyst too, and proved a big help as the 23-year-old coped with adjusting to her new workplace and environment. She was unprepared for what happened next. Less than two months into her new job, they attended an after-work drinks event with other colleagues and, when he invited her to join him... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3294410/victims-experts-want-employers-do-more-address-workplace-sexual-harassment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3294410/victims-experts-want-employers-do-more-address-workplace-sexual-harassment?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Jan 2025 06:00:23 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun A Bangladeshi woman has taken to court her former employer and supervisor who allegedly sexually and racially harassed her, including calling her slurs and describing sexual activities to her while she worked at a law firm in Hong Kong. The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) said on Friday it had issued legal proceedings in the District Court on behalf of the accuser, adding it hoped the case would raise public awareness of illegal sexual and racial harassment acts in the workplace. Khan Saima... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3289763/bangladeshi-woman-accuses-employer-and-supervisor-hong-kong-law-firm-sexually-harassing-her?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3289763/bangladeshi-woman-accuses-employer-and-supervisor-hong-kong-law-firm-sexually-harassing-her?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Dec 2024 12:15:35 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung British expat Alan Wells and his wife have been left devastated by Teikyo Hong Kong Kindergarten’s decision to deny their two-year-old physically disabled son the chance to continue his education at the school on the basis of his condition. Wells complained to the Equal Opportunities Commission in October, but the watchdog on Friday said it was considering discontinuing its investigation after taking the position that the “allegations appeared to be lacking in substance” and calling the school’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3288859/parents-slam-international-kindergarten-hong-kong-rejecting-physically-disabled-son?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3288859/parents-slam-international-kindergarten-hong-kong-rejecting-physically-disabled-son?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Dec 2024 05:56:37 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Two recent incidents of wheelchair users in Hong Kong being denied entry into restaurants – one of them involving a Paralympian – have shone a spotlight on the challenges people with disabilities... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3287635/hong-kong-should-be-city-where-wheelchair-users-are-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3287635/hong-kong-should-be-city-where-wheelchair-users-are-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Nov 2024 03:30:09 +0000 A Hong Kong restaurant has apologised after Paralympic gold medallist Ho Yuen-kei complained over being refused service by a staff member who said her wheelchair would affect other diners. The boccia athlete said on Tuesday that a staff member at Thai restaurant Ayutthaya in Causeway Bay had refused to let her inside because “there was no space for a wheelchair”. When Ho said her wheelchair was small, the employee insisted it would block the way for other diners. But the athlete noted the venue... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3285441/hong-kong-paralympic-gold-medallist-slams-restaurant-denying-entry-over-wheelchair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3285441/hong-kong-paralympic-gold-medallist-slams-restaurant-denying-entry-over-wheelchair?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Nov 2024 09:46:27 +0000 In Hong Kong, sex education in schools has long been considered an awkward subject and it has come to the fore again in recent months as new guidance for Hong Kong’s educational institutions has courted controversy. Teaching materials released in August for Secondary Year 3 students – aged 14 to 15 – promote an approach centred on abstinence to encourage a reduction in the negative consequences of premarital sex. The guidance suggests a range of activities to which young people can turn to... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3284604/why-hong-kongs-new-sex-education-guidance-so-controversial-advocates-urge-improvement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3284604/why-hong-kongs-new-sex-education-guidance-so-controversial-advocates-urge-improvement?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Oct 2024 23:00:10 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A former Hong Kong secondary school pupil has failed in her legal bid to have a rule requiring girls to wear dresses in winter banned, with a judge saying that launching a challenge six years after graduation constituted a “significant delay”. Mr Justice Russell Coleman of the High Court on Tuesday dismissed an application for permission to proceed with a judicial review filed by Yuen Man-hei in June against the Education Bureau and CCC Kei Chi Secondary School, which she attended from 2012 to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3281570/ex-pupil-fails-bid-ban-rule-hong-kong-girls-having-wear-school-dresses-winter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3281570/ex-pupil-fails-bid-ban-rule-hong-kong-girls-having-wear-school-dresses-winter?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Oct 2024 10:39:40 +0000 Minimising noise distractions and putting up clear workplace signage are among measures employers can take to better care for staff suffering from dementia, Hong Kong’s equality watchdog has said, warning against discrimination targeting those with the condition. The Equal Opportunities Commission on Thursday released the “How to Support Employees with Dementia at Work – A Practical Guide for Employer”, aimed at raising public awareness and establishing more accommodating workplaces. The guide... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3280094/hong-kong-equality-watchdog-urges-employers-tailor-workplace-staff-dementia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3280094/hong-kong-equality-watchdog-urges-employers-tailor-workplace-staff-dementia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Sep 2024 11:32:39 +0000 Hong Kong’s equality watchdog is reviewing accusations that a mainland Chinese dumpling shop breached discrimination laws after it posted a hiring notice prioritising female candidates from Guangdong province. The Equal Opportunities Commission said on Wednesday that it was “concerned” about a recruitment notice placed outside the Yuan Ji Yun Jiao dumpling shop in Prince Edward seeking women workers from the neighbouring Cantonese-speaking province. The watchdog said employers could not choose... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3279968/watchdog-looking-dumpling-shop-hong-kong-over-controversial-job-ad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3279968/watchdog-looking-dumpling-shop-hong-kong-over-controversial-job-ad?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Sep 2024 16:32:52 +0000 A Hong Kong man contesting a HK$180,000 (US$23,090) harassment claim by his former domestic helper has denied making persistent requests for sexual favours and maintained the worker seduced him into “committing crimes”. The Equal Opportunities Commission filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Indonesian helper last year, accusing retired tattoo artist Lam Yui-sang of humiliating her with a string of unwelcome advances during her employment in February and March 2022. Lam denied the allegations at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3274360/hong-kong-man-denies-harassment-allegations-domestic-helpers-hk180000-lawsuit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3274360/hong-kong-man-denies-harassment-allegations-domestic-helpers-hk180000-lawsuit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Aug 2024 13:15:26 +0000 More than 80 per cent of Hong Kong mothers say they need more breastfeeding facilities in public places and struggle to find hygienic nursing rooms, a study by the city’s equality watchdog has found. The Equal Opportunities Commission on Tuesday marked World Breastfeeding Week by calling on authorities and venue operators to foster a more breastfeeding-friendly environment, as part of a wider initiative to encourage childbirth in Hong Kong. “We must not only build more breastfeeding facilities... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3273451/over-80-cent-hong-kong-mothers-say-they-need-more-and-cleaner-breastfeeding-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3273451/over-80-cent-hong-kong-mothers-say-they-need-more-and-cleaner-breastfeeding-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Aug 2024 12:46:32 +0000 Airlines should carefully examine their policies and procedures for serving disabled customers after a troubling case involving the removal of two visually impaired passengers preparing to fly from Hong Kong. There is understandable concern after the incident involving Cathay Pacific Airways’ budget wing, HK Express. An investigation is needed to clear the air and hopefully improve communication among staff and customers so safety obligations and passenger rights are addressed in a balanced and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3270704/airline-ordeal-blind-pair-hong-kong-calls-reflection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3270704/airline-ordeal-blind-pair-hong-kong-calls-reflection?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jul 2024 22:45:08 +0000 A Hong Kong court has dismissed a HK$580,000 (US$74,230) claim against a domestic helper’s employer after finding insufficient evidence she had mistreated and fired the worker over her cancer diagnosis. The District Court ruled on Monday that housewife Rita Choy Chiu-yee had displayed a “less than welcomed” and occasionally hostile attitude towards the late Joan Sarmiento Guting in the months leading to the termination of the helper’s contract in April 2017. Judge Grace Chow Chiu-man highlighted... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3269658/hong-kong-court-clears-employer-accused-sacking-domestic-helper-over-cancer-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3269658/hong-kong-court-clears-employer-accused-sacking-domestic-helper-over-cancer-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jul 2024 14:00:31 +0000 Derogatory terms and sensationalised, clickbait headlines should be avoided in media’s reporting on mental health issues, Hong Kong’s equality watchdog has said in its new guidelines to prevent stigmatisation and better protect mentally ill people. The Equal Opportunities Commission on Friday released “Media Guidelines for Reporting on Mental Health Issues”, which offered tips for media practitioners and highlighted the importance of unbiased reporting and the proper use of language and images... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3265843/hong-kong-equality-watchdog-warns-against-derogatory-terms-stigmatise-mentally-ill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3265843/hong-kong-equality-watchdog-warns-against-derogatory-terms-stigmatise-mentally-ill?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Jun 2024 12:00:11 +0000 After graduating from Hong Kong’s oldest university and dreaming of becoming a kindergarten teacher, Saana Qalsoom did not expect her hijab to affect her job search. Qalsoom, 24, said she decided to wear the head covering every day a few years ago as an expression of religious devotion, but was stunned when she was told by a principal during a job interview to take off her hijab if she wanted to get hired. “She told me [the hijab] should not be worn in the classroom. People should, you know,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3263233/keep-it-outside-classroom-tough-lessons-hijab-wearing-hong-kong-graduate-seeking-work-kindergarten?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3263233/keep-it-outside-classroom-tough-lessons-hijab-wearing-hong-kong-graduate-seeking-work-kindergarten?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 May 2024 04:28:33 +0000 Guide dogs are not pets. Their role goes beyond companionship as they offer visually impaired people a way to participate in society more fully. Hong Kong’s equality authority is right to underscore that fact with new guidelines, that unfortunately seem necessary because of shameful treatment of dogs and those who need them. The Equal Opportunities Commission earlier this month released rules to protect the rights of the guide dogs and users. They require that such pairs be treated as regular... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3263223/treat-guide-dogs-and-users-respect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3263223/treat-guide-dogs-and-users-respect?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 May 2024 20:30:23 +0000 Visually impaired people using guide dogs should be treated like regular patrons in restaurants and taxis, Hong Kong’s equality authority has said in new rules issued to foster public acceptance of the animals. The Equal Opportunities Commission on Thursday released “Guide Dogs: A Practical Guide”, which offers tips for protecting the rights of guide dog users in various settings, including on transport, in restaurants, hotels and property management spaces, as well as in the workplace. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3262087/hong-kong-issues-guidelines-make-guide-dogs-more-accepted-pointing-discrimination?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3262087/hong-kong-issues-guidelines-make-guide-dogs-more-accepted-pointing-discrimination?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 May 2024 15:53:07 +0000 Hong Kong’s ethnic minority communities have condemned acts of vandalism against fellow residents and called for better education on inclusiveness after police arrested a suspect who allegedly targeted non-Chinese people in a spate of incidents. But community leaders added that they believed it was an individual case and that such attacks were not a growing trend, although some also noted people of ethnic minority backgrounds still faced discrimination. Police on Friday arrested a man, 23, in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3260653/arrest-vandalism-suspect-who-allegedly-targeted-hong-kong-ethnic-minority-families-sparks-calls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3260653/arrest-vandalism-suspect-who-allegedly-targeted-hong-kong-ethnic-minority-families-sparks-calls?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Apr 2024 02:00:09 +0000 Hong Kong’s equality watchdog will not push for legislation on discrimination against mainland Chinese because of “a more harmonious social atmosphere” in the city after the reopening of the borders, its new chairperson has said, while vowing to continue the fight against unfair treatment. Linda Lam Mei-sau, 61 and who began her three-year term as the chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission on Thursday, also said she would continue to lead the watchdog’s work of combating... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3258682/no-need-hong-kong-law-banning-discrimination-against-mainland-chinese-due-more-harmonious-society?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3258682/no-need-hong-kong-law-banning-discrimination-against-mainland-chinese-due-more-harmonious-society?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Apr 2024 11:22:59 +0000 A former government lawyer is to lead Hong Kong’s equality watchdog for three years from next month. Officials said on Tuesday that Linda Lam Mei-sau had been picked by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to be the new chairwoman of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) with a three-year term. They also thanked Ricky Chu Man-kin, who will stand down from the top role after five years in charge when Lam takes over on April 11. “Ms Lam has a wealth of experience in public service,” a government... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3255993/former-hong-kong-government-international-law-specialist-take-over-head-equal-opportunities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3255993/former-hong-kong-government-international-law-specialist-take-over-head-equal-opportunities?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Mar 2024 23:00:34 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. Accessibility has traditionally been about removing physical barriers for people with disabilities. But as population ageing accelerates, Hong Kong needs to take a more proactive approach to ensure... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3251095/more-inclusive-hong-kong-prioritise-universal-design?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3251095/more-inclusive-hong-kong-prioritise-universal-design?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Feb 2024 03:30:10 +0000 Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in Hong Kong should also include efforts to boost accessibility through the use of universal design, the head of the city’s equality watchdog has said. Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) chairperson Ricky Chu Man-kin, speaking at the Post’s “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit 2024” on Thursday, said DEI initiatives had to become “essential value propositions” for successful businesses and organisations. DEI describes a concept used by firms... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3250632/boost-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-we-need-take-fresh-look-head-hong-kong-equality-watchdog-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3250632/boost-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-we-need-take-fresh-look-head-hong-kong-equality-watchdog-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Feb 2024 15:46:52 +0000 Disabled people and those with chronic conditions should get free rubbish bags after a Hong Kong waste charging scheme comes into force next year, campaign groups have said. The appeal came after a survey released on Wednesday showed that some disabled people would have to pay four times more than a regular household for government-designated plastic bags because of their heavy use of disposable medical supplies. “The waste charging scheme is unfair to people with severe physical disabilities or... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3246424/hong-kong-campaign-groups-appeal-disabled-and-chronically-ill-be-given-free-rubbish-bags-after-waste?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3246424/hong-kong-campaign-groups-appeal-disabled-and-chronically-ill-be-given-free-rubbish-bags-after-waste?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Dec 2023 12:52:23 +0000 While visually impaired Keny Yuen can navigate Hong Kong’s chaotic streets on his own, eating out has proven more difficult as restaurants have gone increasingly digital. “I cannot get a queue ticket on my own, because the kiosk only has a touch screen, and has no screen-reading function,” he said. Some restaurants have digital menus he can “listen to” by using his phone’s screen-reading function. But that does not work if the menus have mostly pictures, not text. “Sometimes I use their tablets... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3242856/starting-zero-hong-kong-restaurants-begin-revamping-e-menus-tech-measures-leave-disabled-diners-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3242856/starting-zero-hong-kong-restaurants-begin-revamping-e-menus-tech-measures-leave-disabled-diners-out?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Nov 2023 01:30:23 +0000 As part of our anti-discrimination role, we, at the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), hear of individual experiences and challenges that may not be very apparent to the public. Recently, a young, ethnic minority university graduate with excellent academic credentials shared his difficulty in getting a job. As experienced by other Hongkongers from ethnic minority communities, the lack of a certain level of Chinese language proficiency barred him from success, even though, in his case, it was... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3242488/how-hong-kong-will-benefit-more-diverse-civil-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3242488/how-hong-kong-will-benefit-more-diverse-civil-service?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Nov 2023 08:30:18 +0000 Hong Kong prides itself on being a diverse international city with laws designed to ensure equal treatment. The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) is responsible for overseeing legislation in specific areas. The city has laws against discrimination on the grounds of sex, disability, family status and race. But the commission’s work has, for years, gone beyond those areas, covering research into other types of discrimination, such as on the grounds of sexual orientation or age. The study of... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3242099/dont-hamper-hong-kongs-quest-equality-spurious-restrictions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3242099/dont-hamper-hong-kongs-quest-equality-spurious-restrictions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Nov 2023 21:30:15 +0000 Two former secondary pupils have launched legal action to claim damages from their old schools in Hong Kong for emotional distress caused by the enforcement of short hair rules for boys. They have alleged discriminatory treatment in separate civil suits, despite the dismissal of earlier complaints made to the city’s equality watchdog. The pair, who were at different schools, on Wednesday filed the claims in court, alleging the hair rules breached the sex and disability discrimination laws. “Over... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3241682/former-hong-kong-secondary-pupils-launch-damages-claims-against-schools-alleging-hair-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3241682/former-hong-kong-secondary-pupils-launch-damages-claims-against-schools-alleging-hair-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:00:19 +0000 Hong Kong’s equality watchdog had spent more than a year researching possible legislative amendments to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, but was told by the government that such action was outside its mandate, the group’s chairman has revealed. Equal Opportunities Commission’s (EOC) chairperson Ricky Chu Man-kin, speaking on Friday at a panel discussion on diversity and inclusion as part of the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the Post, noted that between 2020 and 2021 the body... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3241153/hong-kong-equal-opportunities-watchdog-told-asking-legislative-changes-protect-lgbtq-people-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3241153/hong-kong-equal-opportunities-watchdog-told-asking-legislative-changes-protect-lgbtq-people-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Nov 2023 15:01:53 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. It is most encouraging to see that the chief executive’s policy address late last month included an initiative to provide emotional support and counselling for the city’s ethnic minorities. The... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3240878/policies-hong-kongs-ethnic-minorities-cant-succeed-without-respect-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3240878/policies-hong-kongs-ethnic-minorities-cant-succeed-without-respect-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Nov 2023 03:30:10 +0000 Hongkonger Ally Chan Suet-yu has been open about her sexual orientation with her friends, classmates and colleagues, but the 27-year-old has so far refused to tell her parents she is a lesbian. “I know that they won’t accept me,” said Chan, who left her job as a financial analyst to pursue a master’s degree in fine arts at Baptist University. While she has kept a fundamental part of herself locked away from her family, Chan nonetheless signed up for the Gay Games Hong Kong that began on Friday.... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3240425/how-hong-kongs-gay-games-stumbled-sprint-towards-finishing-line-still-made-history?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3240425/how-hong-kongs-gay-games-stumbled-sprint-towards-finishing-line-still-made-history?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Nov 2023 00:30:34 +0000 Hong Kong’s equality watchdog has called on restaurants to install ramps and automatic doors, widen passageways and use adjustable tables in its first practical guide for the catering industry. The guide, launched by the Equal Opportunities Commission on Monday, outlines best practices for restaurants to serve diners who are disabled or have other mobility issues. Its recommendations were based on the typical client experience from entering a restaurant through to placing orders and eating, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3239727/hong-kong-equality-watchdog-urges-better-wheelchair-access-services-disabled-diners-first-practical?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3239727/hong-kong-equality-watchdog-urges-better-wheelchair-access-services-disabled-diners-first-practical?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:07:14 +0000 Muslim leaders in Hong Kong have raised concerns over the cultural sensitivity of teachers after two teenagers asked for help over their schools’ request to shave off the beards they grew as a way of observing their faith. Ali*, a Form Five pupil at Man Kwan Pak Kau College in Tin Shui Wai, said he and two other Muslim classmates were warned several times they would get demerits if they kept their beards. “The discipline teacher said that it gives our school a bad look,” the 16-year-old said. He... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3236346/hong-kong-muslim-faith-leader-calls-schools-be-more-sensitive-after-schoolboys-told-remove-beards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3236346/hong-kong-muslim-faith-leader-calls-schools-be-more-sensitive-after-schoolboys-told-remove-beards?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Sep 2023 04:00:11 +0000