XN000022-1993-12-08 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1993

WELL-BEING OF WOMEN A MATTER FOR COMMUNITY CONCERN: SHA

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THE WELL-BEING OF WOMEN IN HONG KONG IS NOW A MATTER FOR COMMUNITY CONCERN AND THE FOCUS OF PUBLIC ATTENTION, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING.

TAKEN

SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT DURING A MOTION DEBATE ON SEXUAL EQUALITY, MR SUEN SAID THE ADMINISTRATION HAD ALREADY THE INITIATIVE TO PUT IN PLACE MEASURES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS A SOUND TRACK RECORD TO GIVE ACCOUNT OF ITS WORK, HE ADDED.

A GOOD

FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN THE LEAD TO INTRODUCE EQUAL PAY AND EQUAL TREATMENT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

MEN.

"WE

HAVE INSTITUTED SEPARATE TAXATION FOR MARRIED WOMEN AND

"WE HAVE BEEN REVIEWING LEGISLATION TO REMOVE IMPROPER DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENTS BETWEEN THE SEXES AND INDEED WORK IS NOW PROCEEDING ON A NUMBER OF ORDINANCES.

"THESE INCLUDE THE AFFILIATION PROCEEDINGS ORDINANCE, THE SEPARATION AND MAINTENANCE ORDERS ORDINANCE AND OTHER MARRIAGE-RELATED ORDINANCES."

NEVERTHELESS, MR SUEN SAID HE ENTIRELY ACCEPTED MEMBERS' CONTENTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING MORE.

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"IN A WAY, THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS OF PUBLISHING THE GREEN PAPER ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND MEN THIS AUGUST, HE SAID.

ANOTHER REASON FOR CHOOSING TO DO IT THIS WAY, MR SUEN

SAID, WAS ΤΟ USE IT AS AN EDUCATION TOOL TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND GENERATES DISCUSSIONS ON THE SUBJECT.

NOTING THAT THE GREEN PAPER EXERCISE HAD ACHIEVED THIS IMPORTANT GOAL OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, MR SUEN POINTED OUT THAT PEOPLE WERE NOW MUCH MORE AWARE OF THE ISSUES INVOLVED AND HAD BECOME MORE ARTICULATE ON THIS SUBJECT.

SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER, MR SUEN SAID, LIVELY DEBATES HAD TAKEN PLACE WITHIN THE COUNCIL, AT DISTRICT AND GOVERNMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AMONG VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, GROUPS, EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATIONS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS.

MANY BOARDS

WOMEN AMONG

OF ALL AND THE MENTIONED

THE EXTENSION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW) TO HONG KONG SETTING UP OF A WOMEN'S COMMISSION ARE CLEARLY THE TWO MOST TOPICS WHILE THE WELL-BEING OF WOMEN IS ANOTHER ONE WHICH HAS COME DURING THE CONSULTATION PROCESS.

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