HKFW criticisedWomen's group called
pro-China
By Anita Li
The Hong Kong Federation of Women has been trying to get at least one-fifth of the 400 seats on the Selection Committee assigned to women.
The Selection Committee soon will pick the new chief of the Special Administrative Region, as well as the provisional legislature.
Meanwhile, the association, which was set up in 1993 and embraces 76 women's organizations, held a gala night to celebrate the National Day of the People's Republic of China on October 2 at Queen Elizabeth Stadium.
Nevertheless, its leading members do not consider the Federation a political organization.
Explained chairperson Peggy Lam: "The only reason why we have so many political figures is that we are friends and share similar views on numerous matters.
"We all want to contribute to society and to celebrate the coming of 1997. It is a historical and happy event for China to resume the sovereignty of Hong Kong." On the other hand, Legislative Councillor Emily Lau Wai-hing has a different view of the Federation.
Said she: "HKFW is definitely a pro-Chinese organization. You can see it consists of many pro-Chinese members. What really matters is not whether they are political, but whether they are being used for promotion and something else."
Three of the members, Mrs. Lam, Mrs. Rita Fan and Miss Elizabeth Wong, come from the Preparatory Committee of the Special Administrative Region.
Said Miss Lau: "It is not worth celebrating the return of sovereignty if there is no democracy and complete autonomy after the transition. It is nonsense to be happy for being part of China again because we are always Chinese."
Miss Lau is the chairperson of the Sha Tin Women's Association, which prefers not to have any connection with the Hong Kong Federation of Women.
Mrs. Fan said, "We set up HKFW to liaise with different women's societies, with different goals. They work for women of various status. By pooling our efforts, we can fight for women's rights, give support to the Basic Law and the One-Country-Two-Systems policy."
Miss Christine Loh, who is not a member of the Federation, commented, "It is normal for women's organizations to be political. Their work in society and social issues essentially make them political."
On issues about women's welfare, one of the Federation's targets is to strike for more seats in the Selection Committee for women.
It also aims at setting up volunteer groups in every housing estate to look after children whose mothers need or want to work. The Federation is asking the government to pass a law through the Social Welfare Advisory Committee to help making their goals come true.
Mrs. Fan intends to raise this issue in the Provisional Legislative Council.
While denying accusations of being pro-Chinese, Mrs. Lam believes Hong Kong people should love China instead of Britain, as they are all Chinese.
Said Mrs. Fan: "I personally do not mind being labelled as pro-Chinese. This is not only my standpoint, but also that of the majority of Hong Kong people."
Mrs. Fan would not comment on whether being pro-Chinese would be an advantage to the organization after 1997.
However, Miss Lau said women should not be deprived of chances in politics just because they are pro-Chinese, if there is still democracy in Hong Kong.
As the Federation has a close relationship with Chinese authorities, Mrs. Fan believes they can communicate with the Chinese government.
