In July, the Equal Opportunities Commission launched a public consultation on the review of the discrimination law to consider how the existing anti-discrimination ordinances can be improved to better promote equality for everyone in Hong Kong.
On July 9, the Legislative Council will resume its second and third reading of the Marriage (Amendment) Bill.
Recently, my mother left us at the age of 97. We siblings always felt blessed to have a family where parents, children and grandchildren could gather at festivities to live and laugh, to love and care for each other.
Last week, the Legislative Council held the first reading of the Marriage (Amendment) Bill, introduced to implement the Court of Final Appeal's order in the landmark "W" case. After male-to-female sex reassignment surgery, "W" sought and won the right to marry her male fiancé.
Hong Kong is lagging behind on inclusive education, while most advanced economies are moving ahead. Many students with special educational needs are not getting the support they require and deserve.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is holding hearings this week to look at the situation in Hong Kong. The Equal Opportunities Commission has long been concerned about discrimination issues affecting our youngsters. One of our priorities is the exclusion of ethnic minorities from equal educational opportunities.
In May, the Court of Final Appeal set a milestone for this city with its judgment on the case of Ms W, a post-operative male-to-female transsexual, who fought, against the odds, to be recognised as a woman and for the right to marry the man she loves.
Since assuming my position in April, I have met over 130 different stakeholder groups from various fields to listen to divergent views. A number expressed concern about the possibility of legislation being brought in to protect people against discrimination due to their sexual orientation and gender identity.
