XN000022-1993-08-26 — Page 4

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1993

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"IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER, WE INTEND TO LAUNCH A SURVEY ON THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EQUALITY BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN; THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF AREAS OF INEQUALITY, IF ANY, AND THE REASONS INEQUALITY, HE SAID.

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FOR SUCH

MR SUEN ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO FIRM VIEWS ON HOW то UNDERTAKE THIS SURVEY BUT WOULD WORK CLOSELY WITH EXPERTS OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT.

OUT.

"WORK ON THE SURVEY WILL START AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, HE POINTED

REFERRING TO THE CONTENTS OF THE GREEN PAPER, MR SUEN SAID IN ALL AREAS SURVEYED IN THE GREEN PAPER, WOMEN ENJOYED THE SAMB OPPORTUNITIES AND RIGHTS AS MEN DID.

ALMOST

"THEY ENJOY THE SAME RIGHTS TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC TO TAKE UP EMPLOYMENT, AND TO RECEIVE EDUCATION.

AFFAIRS;

"THEY HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

YET MEN AND WOMEN, MR SUEN OBSERVED, DO NOT PARTICIPATE EQUALLY IN ALL FIELDS.

IN POLITICS, FOR INSTANCE, 5.1 PER CENT OF THE Elected MEMBERS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND 9.1 PER CENT OF THE ELECTED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS ARE FEMALE.

OF

"AND OF THE SOME 690 VILLAGES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THERE IS ONLY ONE FEMALE VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVE, MR SUEN SAID.

IN EMPLOYMENT, MR SUEN NOTED THAT WOMEN AND MEN TENDED TO TAKR UP DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS.

"WOMEN CONCENTRATE IN CLERICAL POSITIONS. THERE IS ALSO A GENDER GAP IN REMUNERATION.

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IN EDUCATION, WOMEN AND MEN TEND TO HAVE DIFFERENT ACADEMIC INTERESTS AND PURSUITS.

"THERE IS A HIGHER FEMALE PRESENCE IN ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES SUBJECTS IN THE UNIVERSITIES, MR SUEN ADDED.

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REFERRING TO THE DIFFERENCES, MR SUEN EMPHASISED THAT EQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN DID NOT DEPEND ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES ALONE.

"BIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES, PERSONAL PREFERENCES AND SOCIAL FORCES ALL AFFECT THE EXTENT OF EQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN.

"IN EMPLOYMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS RECOGNISED THAT THERE COULD BE A DEGREE OF ROLE BIAS IN SOCIETY WHICH HAS AFFECTED THE NUMBER OF WOMEN OR MEN PARTICIPATING IN CERTAIN OCCUPATIONS; FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE FEWER FEMALE ENGINEERS AND MALE PERSONAL SECRETARIES, MR SUEN SAID.

/"IN A