The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, today (September 6) visited the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and met with the management and staff members to listen to them discuss their work and future plans, as well as the challenges they have encountered during work.

     At the meeting with the Chairman of the EOC, Professor Alfred Chan, and heads of divisions, Mr Nip was briefed on the EOC's future work plans. They include advancing equal educational and employment opportunities and access rights to services for ethnic minorities (EMs), promoting equal educational and employment opportunities and access rights to public services for people with disabilities, and addressing prevalent discrimination and harassment issues and following up on recommendations under the Discrimination Law Review.

     He learnt that the EOC had set up a dedicated Ethnic Minority Unit (EM Unit) in 2015. To assist EMs to address problems they encountered when applying for bank services or renting properties, the Unit has co-operated with the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers and the Estate Agents Authority to organise workshops to enhance the understanding of banking staff and estate agents of the anti-discrimination laws.

     Mr Nip said he appreciates that the EOC's services are very useful in helping EMs to integrate in society. He encouraged the EOC to continue with its efforts in advocating equal opportunities for EMs.

     During his tour of the EOC office, Mr Nip exchanged views with staff members of various divisions and was briefed on their work. He expressed gratitude to staff members for their dedication and hard work in contributing to the elimination of discrimination in Hong Kong.

     Mr Nip said, "The Government has been sparing no effort in promoting the elimination of discrimination and equal opportunities. The EOC is a statutory organisation tasked to enforce the anti-discrimination laws. We will continue to maintain proactive interaction and close co-operation with the EOC with a view to working together in building a pluralistic and inclusive society which is free from discrimination."

Ends/Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:20

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