XN000022-1993-09-02 — Page 8

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1993

SHA BRIEFS DB CHAIRMEN ON

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES GREEN PAPER

THE

SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, TODAY (THURSDAY) BRIEFED DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMEN ON THE NEWLY GREEN PAPER ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND MEN.

PUBLISHED

ALSO ATTENDING THE BRIEFING SESSION WERE CHAIRMEN OF COMMUNITY BUILDING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEES UNDER THE DISTRICT BOARDS.

MR SUEN EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE GREEN PAPER WAS TO SEEK PUBLIC VIEWS ON THE NEED FOR ACTION TO FURTHER ENHANCE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH SEXES, AND THE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN,

"IN THIS RESPECT, THE DISTRICT BOARDS ARE WELL-PLACED TO STIMULATE PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS AND TO GATHER AND REFLECT PUBLIC OPINION ON THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT, " HE SAID.

MR SUEN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT WAS THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE POSITION OF WOMEN IN HONG KONG.

AMONG

IT CARRIED WITH IT A SIGNIFICANT EDUCATIONAL VALUE IN FOSTERING THE PUBLIC A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE QUESTION

EQUAL OPPORTUNTIES AND EQUALITY BETWEEN THE SEXES, HE ADDED.

OF

STRESSING THE BALANCED ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PREPARING THE GREEN PAPER, MR SUEN SAID: "WE HAVE AN OPEN MIND AND IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION TO INFLUENCE OR STEER PUBLIC OPINION IN A PARTICULAR DIRECTION,"

TO

MEANWHILE, LETTERS AND COPIES OF THE GREEN PAPER HAVE BEEN SENT WOMEN'S GROUPS, EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATIONS, EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATIONS, AND RELEVANT ORGANISATIONS TO SOLICIT THEIR VIEWS.

VIEWS FROM THESE ORGANISATIONS, MR SUEN STRESSED, WERE VERY IMPORTANT IN HELPING THE GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP ITS FUTURE COURSE OF ACTION ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ALSO WELCOME TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS BY WRITING TO THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, 31ST FLOOR, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.

COPIES OF

THE GREEN PAPER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND WORK GROUP UNITS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

CONSULTATION WILL LAST UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR.

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