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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1992
PUBLIC TO BE CONSULTED ON EXTENT OF
SEX DISCRIMINATION IN HK
✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶
BY
THE GOVERNMENT HAS WITHDRAWN ITS AMENDMENT TO A MOTION
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, THE HON EMILY LAU, TO EXTEND TO HONG KONG UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW).
STATING THIS DURING THE MOTION DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE FOR EDUCATION AND COUNCIL TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY), THE ACTING SECRETARY
THE MANPOWER, MISS CHRISTINE CHOW, SAID IN SUGGESTING THE AMENDMENT,
TO ADMINISTRATION'S ORIGINAL INTENTION WAS
MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT WISHED TO CONSULT THE PUBLIC ON THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT.
"ON REFLECTION, WE DO NOT CONSIDER ISSUE OVER THE PRINCIPLE OF CONSULTATION,
SHE SAID THE EXTENSION OF CEDAW TO IMPROVEMENTS
ITSELF, BRING ABOUT GENUINE SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY FOR SUCH ACTION.
IT
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NECESSARY TO MAKE AN MISS CHOW SAID.
HONG KONG WOULD UNLESS THERE WAS
NOT. BY
A WIDE
IN THIS RESPECT, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO CONSULT THE PUBLIC SOME TIME NEXT
THE YEAR IN THE FORM OF A GREEN PAPER ON
NEED FOR ACTION TO ENSURE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN SOCIETY.
THE DOCUMENT WILL EXPLAIN THE IMPLICATIONS OF EXTENDING CEDAW TO HONG KONG AND THE NATURE OF THE OBLIGATIONS ARISING.
IT WILL ALSO SEEK THE COMMUNITY'S VIEWS ON THE PERCEIVED EXTENT OF SEX DISCRIMINATION IN HONG KONG AND THE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
HONG MISS CHOW TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE EXTENSION OF CEDAW TO
THE FIRST AND KONG WOULD GIVE RISE TO SUBSTANTIAL NEW OBLIGATIONS, FOREMOST OF WHICH WAS THE REQUIREMENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION AGAINST SEX DISCRIMINATION, INCLUDING IN PARTICULAR EQUAL PAY LEGISLATION.
"SUCH LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE TO APPLY TO BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTIONS, SHE SAID.
וי
"THIS WOULD INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN THE CONDUCT OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF AREAS."
THE
TO CITE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS MIGHT ENTAIL, MISS CHOW SAID
KINGDOM UNITED
GOVERNMENT, IN SIGNING
RATIFYING AND
THE
HAD CONVENTION,
FOUND IT NECESSARY TO ENTER A LARGE NUMBER
NATIONALITY, RESERVATIONS COVERING SUCH DIVERSE AREAS AS IMMIGRATION, EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL SECURITY, TAXATION AND THE ADOPTION AND CUSTODY CHILDREN.
OF
OF
SECONDLY, MISS CHOW SAID, LEGISLATION NEEDED TO BE ENFORCED IT WAS TO BE EFFECTIVE.
IF
LEGISLATION
BUT THIS IS NOT ALWAYS EASY IN THE CASE OF SEX
SINCE OBJECTIVE EVIDENCE IS LIKELY TO ADDUCE IN MANY CASES.
BE
DISCRIMINATION
DIFFICULT
TO
/FOR EXAMPLE