XN000022-1994-06-06 — Page 5

MONDAY, JUNE 6, 1994

PRESS STATEMENT ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES ISSUES

* * * *

THE FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, TODAY (MONDAY):

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME RECENT REPORTS IN THE MEDIA ABOUT EQUAL

INITIATIVES OPPORTUNITIES

WHICH REQUIRE CLARIFICATION. THE ISSUES ARE SEXUAL HARASSMENT, PROTECTION FOR PREGNANT WORKERS CONCERNED MARITAL STATUS. THE POSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATION ON THESE

ISSUES IS AS FOLLOWS:

AND THREE

ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT, WE WILL BE DRAFTING LEGISLATION TO COVER THIS SO AS TO ENSURE THAT GENUINE CASES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT ARE DEALT WITH FIRMLY AND SERIOUSLY. CERTAIN ASPECTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, INSOFAR AS THEY CONSTITUTE INDECENT ASSAULT, ARE ALREADY CRIMINAL OFFENCES.

ON THE QUESTION OF PROTECTION FOR PREGNANT WORKERS, THIS IS AN ISSUE WHICH IS COVERED BY THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE. WE ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THAT ORDINANCE TO ENSURE THAT PREGNANT WORKERS ARE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED.

ON MARITAL STATUS, THE ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY ON THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION. AGAINST SEX DISCRIMINATION IN ANY AREAS WHERE THERE IS A CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED NEED FOR IT.

IN DRAWING UP OUR LEGISLATION WE WILL BE EXAMINING THE CASE FOR COVERING THE ISSUE OF MARITAL STATUS AGAINST THIS CLEARLY STATED CRITERION.

OVERALL OUR

AIM WILL BE TO ENSURE THAT LEGISLAT LON ON SEX DISCRIMINATION IS SUFFICIENTLY COMPREHENSIVE TO COVER ALL ASPECTS THE ISSUE.

OF

MORE CLEARANCE ALLOWANCE FOR TIU KENG LENG RESIDENTS

THE GOVERNMENT IS TO INCREASE BY 46 PER CENT THE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE TO PERMIT HOLDERS OF STRUCTURES IN THE TI KENG LENG COTTAGE AREA TO BE CLEARED TO MAKE WAY FOR PHASE 111 DEVELOPMENT OF TSEUNG KWAN O NEW TOWN.

THE REVISED RATE OF $5,037 PER SQUARE METRE OF FLOOR AREA BE APPLICABLE TO DOMESTIC STRUCTURES, SHOPS AND OTHER PREMISES IN COTTAGE AREA.

WILL THE

THE AMOUNT OF EX-GRATIA PAYMENT WILL BE CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF THE

AREAS FLOOR

OF BOTH THE GROUND AND

OF UPPER

THE FLOORS STRUCTURES AS RECORDED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IN THE RECENT SURVEY.

/THE EX-GRATIA