EOC chairman Alfred Chan promises to push for public consultation on law to protect sexual minorities and various measures to benefit transgender people
JENNIFER.NGO@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Wednesday, 04 May, 2016, 1:17pm
Equal Opportunities Commission chairman Alfred Chan previously caused controversy for his negative comments on legislation to protect sexual minorities from discrimination. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
The city’s equality chief has promised to push for public consultation over sexual minority anti-discrimination legislation and to act as a liaison between LGBT groups and the administration over various issues, said local concern groups.
In his first meeting with representatives of LGBT rights concern groups on Tuesday evening, Equal Opportunities Commission chairman Alfred Chan Cheung-ming acceded to all five requests made. These included pushing the government to conduct public consultation as a prerequisite for establishing an anti-discrimination law to protect sexual minorities, said representative Yeo Wai-wai.
“He signed off a few ‘cheques’ at that meeting. What remains now is to see if any real action will follow,” Yeo added.
Yeo said that Chan promised to be a liaison between groups and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to discuss giving transgender people the option to remove the “gender code” – honorifics such as Miss or Mr – in front of their names on bank documents. He also said he would liaise with the government over setting up disabled toilets as “transgender friendly” facilities.
Both of these changes will greatly benefit transgender people who are transitioning and help them in their daily lives, Yeo said.
“If you have a person who is male but is going through transition and looks more female, this person actually cannot go to either of the bathrooms.”
On Tuesday, concern groups also filed an official complaint against the Labour and Welfare Bureau, which had denied their application to be part of a working group on family violence. Chan promised to investigate, Yeo said.
The EOC chairman also said he would attend an LGBT rally on May 15 in Causeway Bay if his schedule allowed.
“I think he has put in effort,” Yeo said.
“But whether it amounts to anything remains to be seen.”
The chairman previously caused controversy for his negative comments on legislation to protect sexual minorities from discrimination, despite a landmark report done by his predecessor strongly supporting it.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1941092/signing-cheques-head-hong-kong-equality-watchdog
