officials, and 10 appointed. After those elections, there were seven women, one directly elected, one indirectly, and five appointed. Now, since you introduced your proposals for further democracy, out of 58 members, there are only 6 women, four of them appointed. The election of only one women during the direct elections was most unsatisfactory, but understandable under the circumstances we are
describing.
We are not asking for a brake on democracy, but we can suggest a solution: the setting up of a Women's Commission. Within its scope would be a commitment to helping to raise women's political consciousness, and thus their political participation at all levels. It is not something that can be done by women's groups on their own; there are too many issues requiring their attention and too few resources. One area which would require particular attention is the gender-discrimination, leading to low self-esteem for women, contained in school text books.
We can prove that we are not undemocratic. When the number of Functional Constituencies was to be increased but the narrow, undemocratic nature of election was to be continued, we did not press for a Housewives' Constituency. But now that you propose a wider and more democratic electorate for functional constituencies, we are incredulous that you propo se to disenfranchise housewives. To consider that giving birth to and bringing up and caring for the next generation of citizens is not a vital part of Hong Kong's economy is hardly consonant with modern progressive thinking. A Women's Commission which could advise the Chief Executive during the preparation of policy statements, so that such aberrations can be detected in advance, is in our view, essential.
In conclusion, we repeat that, when it is suggested that there are more important matters to worry about at the moment than women's issues, we strongly disagree. A Women's Commission would address and harmonise the broad spread of women's issues, monitor the implementation of CEDAW, and prepare for the 1995 World/UN Women's Conference to be held in Peking, as well as give Hong Kong much-needed credibility there. Equally important, from the point of view of your proposed reforms, a Women's Commission would ensure a rather more democratic Hong Kong by 1997 than is at the moment possible, whatever other obstacles are overcome. We urge you immediately to put forward the necessary proposals and to use your powers to persuade the community to accept them.
Yours sincerely,
Barbare | Clarke-Susanna be
queta singh.
Centri Young.
Linde (100
Tessa Stewart
Barbara Clarke, Susanna Hoe, Maria Jaschok, Linda Koo, Geeta Singh, Tessa Stewart, Cecilia Young
AWARE (Association of Women for Action and Research)
4
Page 30Page 31
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.