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7.
Legislation regarding family status will cover a similar scope of activities as SDO. SDO currently outlaws discrimination in the areas of employment, education, disposal and management of premises, provisions of goods and services, and activities of clubs and government.
"We also propose that the remit of the Equal Opportunities Commission be broadened to handle complaints and requests for assistance in this area," Mr Suen added.
Apart from a clear support for legislative means, feedback from the consultation also revealed a strong demand for non-legislative measures to help enhance equal employment opportunities and to relieve persons of a particular family status, especially single parents and those who have to take care of the elderly or disabled members of their families.
Mr Suen said to address public concern on this issue, the Administration proposed also to adopt the following administrative measures:
strengthening public education through civic education and family life education;
continuing to facilitate persons with family responsibility to re-enter the labour market:
encouraging employers to implement flexible working hours and parental leave system.
Turning to the result of the consultation on discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation, Mr Suen said submissions reflected divergent views on this issue.
While some pointed out that homosexuals suffer from public misconception about them and discrimination in the areas of employment and provision of accommodation, others maintained that the problem of discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation was not serious in Hong Kong.
Some made the point that homosexuality was against traditional Chinese culture which placed much emphasis on the institutions of family and marriage.
On the proposal to introduce legislation to prohibit discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation, over 85 per cent of the submissions indicated strong opposition. They were concerned about giving legal recognition to homosexuality and de facto relationships through anti-discrimination legislation.