XN000022-1994-10-14 — Page 21

19

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1994

THE FIGURES ARE CONTAINED IN THE MONTHLY TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE LAND REGISTRY ON DEEDS

FOR REGISTRATION RECEIVED

TRANSACTIONS TERRITORIES LAND REGISTRIES LAST MONTH.

IN

STATISTICS RELEASED RELATING TO PROPERTY THE URBAN AND NEW

RELEVANT STATISTICS FOR AUGUST 1994 AND SEPTEMBER PROVIDED

COMPARISON.

AND PURCHASE FOR

FIGURES ON SALE RECEIVED FOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS AND THE YEAR-ON-YEAR RATE WERE ALSO RELEASED.

1993 WERE

AGREEMENTS OF CHANGE

THESE STATISTICS GENERALLY RELATE TO LAND TRANSACTIONS EXECUTED THERE UP TO FOUR WEEKS PRIOR TO THEIR SUBMISSION FOR REGISTRATION, AS

OF DEEDS AND THEIR IS USUALLY A

LAG BETWEEN THE EXECUTION TIME LODGMENT FOR REGISTRATION.

BILL TO PROHIBIT SEX DISCRIMINATION ANNOUNCED

AND

A BILL TO OUTLAW SEX DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

INTRODUCING THE PROVISIONS OF THE SEX DISCRIMINATION BILL AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, SAID THE BILL WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO THE WIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION AGAINST GENDER-RELATED DISCRIMINATION.

"WE HAVE INCORPORATED IN THE BILL ALL THE KEY AREAS IN WHICH THERE IS CONSENSUS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR LEGISLATIVE MEANS TO BAN SEX DISCRIMINATION, MR SUEN SAID.

TT

"THE BILL PUBLISHED TODAY TAKES INTO ACCOUNT A WIDE RANGE OF PUBLIC OPINIONS COLLECTED DURING THE GREEN PAPER CONSULTATION EXERCISE CONDUCTED LATE LAST YEAR.

"EVEN DURING THE DRAFTING STAGE, WE CONTINUED то LISTEN TO VIEWS EXPRESSED BY CONCERNED GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS IN ORDER TO FINETUNE OUR PROPOSAL TO BEST FIT COMMUNITY ASPIRATIONS AND HONGKONG'S CIRCUMSTANCES,' MR SUEN SAID.

H

"THE GOVERNMENT IS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO FOSTERING GENDER EQUALITY IN HONG KONG. WE BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL REMOVE POTENTIAL INJUSTICE AND UNFAIR RESTRICTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S PROSPECTS ON ACCOUNT OF HIS OR HER GENDER, HE SAID.

"

"THE BILL MAKES SEX DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT UNLAWFUL IN MANY AREAS OF ACTIVITY INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, PROVISION OF GOODS AND SERVICES, AND THE DISPOSAL AND MANAGEMENT OF PREMISES," MR SUEN SAID.

"IT

AGAINST A ADDED.

RENDERS UNLAWFUL IN THE EMPLOYMENT FIELD ΤΟ PERSON ON THE GROUND OF MARITAL STATUS OR

DISCRIMINATE

PREGNANCY," HE

/"WITH SUCH