XN000022-1992-12-16 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1992

FOR EXAMPLE, AN EMPLOYEE WHO HAS LOST OUT IN A PROMOTION EXERCISE MAY COMPLAIN OF SEX DISCRIMINATION WHILE THE EMPLOYER MAY ARGUE THAT THE DECISION HAS BEEN BASED SOLELY ON MERIT.

"A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SUBJECTIVE JUDGEMENT IS LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED ON BOTH SIDES, AND IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN WHICH PARTY IS AT FAULT.

"THE RESOURCES REQUIRED TO ADJUDICATE DISPUTES COULD THEREFORE BE CONSIDERABLE."

MISS CHOW ALSO CONSIDERED THAT IT WAS DEBATABLE THAT THE EXTENSION OF CEDAW AND THE ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION WERE THE BEST WAYS TO ELIMINATE SEX DISCRIMINATION.

ACCORDING ΤΟ STATISTICS IN THE 1991 CENSUS, THE RATIO OF WOMEN'S MEDIAN HOURLY INCOME TO MEN'S IN HONG KONG IS CURRENTLY ABOUT 80 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE RATIO OF 77 PER CENT ATTAINED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WHERE THE SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT HAS BEEN IN FORCE FOR 17 YEARS.

IN

THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT HAS MARCH THIS YEAR TO EXAMINE THE QUESTION OF SEX DISCRIMINATION ALSO FOUND THAT, WHILE WAGE AND OTHER DIFFERENTIALS DO STILL EXIST

MEN BETWEEN

AND WOMEN, THESE HAVE NARROWED SIGNIFICANTLY YEARS AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT PARTICULARLY SERIOUS,

IN RECENT

"INDEED, GIVEN THE TIGHT LABOUR MARKET AND HIGH LABOUR MOBILITY, THERE IS LITTLE SCOPE FOR EMPLOYERS TO ADOPT DISCRIMINATORY EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES UNRELATED TO THE WORK CAPACITY OF THE EMPLOYEES, MISS CHOW SAID.

SHE WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN EMPLOYED AS MANAGERS AND ADMINISTRATORS INCREASED FROM 0.8 PER CENT OF THE FEMALE WORKING POPULATION IN 1981 TO 2.8 PER CENT IN 1991, AND THAT OF WOMEN PROFESSIONALS AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS ALSO INCREASED FROM 6.7 PER CENT TO 15 PER CENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD.

"WE EXPECT THESE TRENDS TO CONTINUE AS MORE AND MORE WOMEN TAKE ADVANTAGE

MOVE OF THE EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THEY ENJOY AND INTO JOBS ONCE STEREOTYPED AS BEING FOR MEN ONLY.

"THIS HAS HAPPENED EVEN IF CEDAW HAS NOT BEEN EXTENDED TO

THIS

TERRITORY,

PARTIES

DISCRIMINATION

HONG KONG, MISS CHOW ADDED.

"CONVERSELY, THE POSITION OF WOMEN IN MANY COUNTRIES WHICH

ΤΟ CEDAW, AND WHICH HAVE ENACTED SOME

OF FORM

LEGISLATION,

THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY BETTER THAN

ARE

SEX

IN

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