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Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)

Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)
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.
St Francis Street is a major thoroughfare in the neighbourhood connecting Queen’s Road East to the Starstreet Precinct, but its steep and narrow one-way path with a gradient of about 1:6 already poses barriers to residents with disabilities. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong society

Town planning body slammed for neglecting disabled people over Wan Chai plan

Ex-legislator among those calling for review to make development plan covering Sau Wa Fong and Nam Koo Terrace more barrier-free.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | 3 ways Hong Kong can keep the golden goose of ecotourism healthy

Racism and other prejudice

Letters | What the world loses when you quietly judge people by their accents

Hong Kong society

Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: author breaks barriers for disability inclusion

Sa’diyya Nesar, published author and TEDx speaker, has been nominated in the perseverance category of the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards.

Sa’diyya Nesar uses her voice to promote empathy and inclusion. Photo: Kong Yat-pan
Hong Kong society

Axe ‘invisible barriers’ affecting people with disabilities: Hong Kong watchdog

Equal Opportunities Commission lays out eight recommendations for tackling discriminatory practices in new guide.

Hong Kong workers/labour rights

Editorial | Family-friendly workplaces would be a win-win for Hong Kong

Work-life balance isn’t just important for families; employers also benefit from offering flexible arrangements.

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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Editorial | Mental health support guide valuable for Hong Kong employers

The guide can help promote understanding and compliance with anti-discrimination laws that are still overlooked by many.

Ferrick Chu Chung-man, executive director of operations at the Equal Opportunities Commission, is seen during a press conference to introduce a new guide titled “How to Support Employees with Mental Health Conditions at Work”, at the EOC headquarters in Wong Chuk Hang, on July 29. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong society

90% of Hong Kong HR staff say family-friendly policies lacking, poll finds

Equal Opportunities Commission urges government and employers to step up efforts to create more family-friendly workplaces.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong equality watchdog issues mental health workplace support guide

Equal Opportunities Commission recommends adopting measures such as flexible work hours and regular breaks to help struggling employees.

Hong Kong society

Explainer | Facing racial discrimination in Hong Kong? Here’s what you need to know

Former senior business analyst lawsuit against HSBC for alleged racial discrimination brings topic into media spotlight.

The Equal Opportunities Commission serves as the statutory body that implements and enforces Hong Kong’s four main anti-discrimination laws. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong society

Victims, experts want employers in Hong Kong to do more to tackle sexual harassment

Few victims report harassment because of unclear company policies, fear of what investigation might entail.

Hong Kong’s Equal Opportunities Commission received 943 complaints of sexual harassment between 2020 and 2024. Photo: Shutterstock
Crime in Hong Kong

Bangladeshi woman accuses Hong Kong law firm of sexually harassing her

Equal Opportunities Commission issues legal proceedings on behalf of Khan Saima Begum, who claims boss at WT Law Offices sexually and racially harassed her.

Hong Kong society

Parents slam kindergarten in Hong Kong for rejecting physically disabled son

British expat Alan Wells also expresses disappointment over watchdog’s stance that move by Teikyo Hong Kong Kindergarten was ‘justified’.

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Hong Kong society

Letters | Hong Kong should be a city where wheelchair users are welcome

Readers discuss cases of restaurants turning away customers in wheelchair, using ChatGPT to improve English-speaking abilities and discrimination against ethnic minority groups.

Elderly women sit on a bench in a housing estate in Hong Kong in April 2019. The demand for barrier-free facilities and services will grow in Hong Kong amid population ageing. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong restaurant apologises for refusing entry to Paralympic gold medallist

Ho Yuen-kei was refused service at Thai restaurant when a staff member said her wheelchair would affect other diners.

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Ho Yuen-kei has competed in three Paralympic Games. Photo: May Tse
Good Schools Guide

Why Hong Kong’s new sex education guidance is causing controversy

Advocates from sex positivity campaigners to Aids Concern and the Equal Opportunities Commission say more and better sex education is needed – merely suggesting abstinence is no answer.

Hong Kong courts

Bid to ban rule on Hong Kong girls having to wear school dresses in winter fails

Judicial review applicant says she decided to ‘voice out for all girl students’ but fails to persuade judge.

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Hong Kong society

Hong Kong equality watchdog urges employers to support staff with dementia

Advice from Equal Opportunities Commission includes giving staff with condition familiar tasks and putting up clear workplace signage.

The Equal Opportunities Commission has warned that more people with dementia are likely to join the workforce in the coming years. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong society

Watchdog looking into dumpling shop in Hong Kong over controversial job ad

Yuan Ji Yun Jiao dumpling shop job notice prioritising female migrants from Guangdong province drew online backlash.

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong man denies harassing domestic helper in HK$180,000 lawsuit

Retired tattoo artist Lam Yui-sang maintains worker seduced him into ‘committing crimes’ instead.

Hong Kong society

Over 80% of Hong Kong mothers want more, cleaner breastfeeding facilities

Survey of 1,400 mothers and in-depth interviews with 30 by Equal Opportunities Commission show they also faced discrimination from employers.

A baby care room near the female toilet at the Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Airline ordeal of blind pair in Hong Kong calls for reflection

Removal of two men from HK Express flight to Tokyo, despite both having flown before, shows need to be sensitive and ensure dignity, as well as safety.

Two blind men were removed from an HK Express flight, causing an outcry from the Hong Kong Blind Union. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong court clears employer accused of firing helper over cancer diagnosis

Judge says enmity between housewife Rita Choy and her helper alone does not constitute sufficient grounds for claim of unlawful discrimination.

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong equality watchdog warns against derogatory terms that stigmatise mentally ill

Equal Opportunities Commission releases guidelines highlighting importance of unbiased reporting in media’s coverage of mental health issues.

Hong Kong society

How Hong Kong graduate’s dream of teaching took hit because of her hijab

Saana Qalsoom, 24, says she was told in a job interview that the hijab should not be worn in the classroom.

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Saana Qalsoom is now working as a kindergarten teacher in a school she says she found welcoming. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Hong Kong society

Editorial | Treat guide dogs and users with respect

New Equal Opportunities Commission guidelines on protecting the rights of guide dogs and users are an important step towards more acceptance.

As of April this year, there were more than 50 trained guide dogs in Hong Kong. The animals help perform tasks for people with visual impairments. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong issues guidelines to make guide dogs more accepted

Equal Opportunities Commission hopes suggestions will ensure guide dog users do not face discrimination taking transport or going to restaurants.

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Hong Kong society

Vandalism incidents slammed after Hong Kong ethnic minority families targeted

City’s chief imam, Mufti Muhammad Arshad, condemns incidents but says he believes it is an individual case.

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