XN000022-1993-08-26 — Page 5

4

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1993

**IN

WHICH

TREASURES

THE

OF RIGHTS

THE NOR

A FREE SOCIETY INDIVIDUAL, IT IS NOT FOR GOVERNMENT TO ENGINEER PERSONAL CHOICES TO PRESCRIBE SOCIAL NORMS AND ATTITUDES."

HE BELIEVED

NEVERTHELESS,

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE MEASURES TO FOSTER EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN HONG KONG.

THEY INCLUDED STEPPING UP PUBLIC

A EDUCATION, DEVELOPING

EXTENDING THE CONTROL, WOMEN, INSTITUTING LEGISLATIVE

FORMS

ELIMINATION

NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE

OF ALL DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW) TO HONG KONG, AND SETTING

CHARTER FOR UNITED

WOMEN'S COMMISSION.

"EVERY

MEASURE IMPROVEMENT

OF

UP A

INEVITABLY CARRIES WITH PARTICULAR IMPLICATIONS WHICH WILL HAVE A DIRECT EFFECT ON MEMBERS OUR COMMUNITY, MR SUEN SAID.

++

IT

OF

SUEN SAID

WOULD

TO

LEGISLATIVE CONTROL CITING

AS AN

MR EXAMPLE,

LEGISLATION EQUAL PAY AND ANTI-SEX DISCRIMINATION INTRODUCING PROVIDE AN AVENUE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM DISCRIMINATION SEEK REDRESS.

BUT

DEGREE

OF

LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO INVOLVE A CERTAIN SUCH GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN THE OPERATION OF INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYERS.

BE

ONEROUS

"TO MEET THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, EMPLOYERS MIGHT REQUIRED TO DEVELOP A FORMAL SYSTEM OF RECRUITMENT AND PROMOTION PROCEDURES. SOME SMALL BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS MIGHT FIND IT TO COMPLY WITH THE LEGISLATION," MR SUEN SAID.

POINTED OUT STEPS TO PRIVATE

ON THE EXTENSION OF CEDAW TO HONG KONG, MR SUEN THAT

OBLIGED CEDAW

STATES PARTIES TO

APPROPRIATE TAKE ELIMINATE UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN BY PUBLIC AND BODIES.

ON HONG LEGISLATION

"THE EXTENSION WOULD IMPOSE WIDE-RANGING OBLIGATIONS KONG.

SOME FORM OF EQUAL PAY OR ANTI-SEX DISCRIMINATION WHICH APPLY TO BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY BE REQUIRED, MR SUEN EXPLAINED.

Hi

AN ORGANISATION

TO CO-ORDINATE THE WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE ESTABLISHED.

OF IMPLEMENTATION

CEDAW

HAVR

DISCUSSING

AS FOR THE SETTING UP OF A WOMEN'S COMMISSION, THIS COULD DIFFERENT MODES OF OPERATION AND PROVIDE A FOCAL POINT FOR WOMEN'S MATTERS.

"SUCH A COMMISSION WOULD REQUIRE EXECUTIVE SUPPORT IN ORDER FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY," MR SUEN ADDED.

TO

MEMBERS,

PUBLIC SHOULD FURTHER EQUAL

THAT EMPHASISING

THE STATUS OF WOMEN WILL BE ULTIMATELY DETERMINED BY THE ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF COMMUNITY

WAS THEREFORE IMPERATIVE THAT MR SUEN SAID IT

WHETHER ACTION WAS NEEDED EXPRESS THE VIEWS ON OPPORTUNITIES AND IF SO, THE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN.

THE

TO

/INVITING THE