A Step to Equality
Public and private sectors eliminating sex discrimination

By Belinda Chan and Amy Or

    While the socio-economic status of women in Hong Kong is improving, discrimination persists.
     A research monograph on gender was published by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1991.
     It showed that for every four male administrators or managers, there was only one female.
     This meant that women were generally under represented in higher ranking and well-paid jobs.
     Besides, women make less money than men do.
     From the data in the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics in September 1996, the average income of women was still much lower than that of men.
     Also, despite the increasing working hours, there is no reduction in women’s share of housework.
     A survey on housework sharing conducted by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies showed that women still perform the lion’s share of child care and housework.
     All the above show that higher socioeconomic status does not give women sexual equality at both home and office.
     Prof. Rubie Watson of the Anthropology Department at The Chinese University of Hong Kong said that such inequality was due to two reasons: women’s double burden and employer’s prejudice.
     Married working women are expected to do equally well at work and at home. Thus, they may not work as devotedly as their male counterparts.
     “Besides,” said Prof. Watson, “employers have preconceptions about women’s ability and therefore prefer men in jobs requiring physical strength, such as fire-fighters.”
     Mr. Li Siu Kwai, the chief equal opportunities officer of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said that historical reasons were also an important factor.
     Said he: “In the ’70s, universities were dominated by men. Given the time for them to work their way up, it is no wonder that men dominate the decision-making levels now.”
     As a result, the Sex Discrimination Ordinance was set up in 1995, and the Equal Opportunities Commission in 1996.
     The Equal Opportunities Commission is a statutory body implementing the Sex Discrimination Ordinance and the Disability Discrimination Ordinance, which was also set up in 1996.
     With regard to sex discrimination, the Commission works towards the elimination of sex, marital and pregnancy discriminations.
     It also aims at eliminating sexual harassment and promoting the concept of equal opportunities between the sexes.
     Dr. Fanny Cheung, chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said, “The establishment of the Commission signposts a new page for women in Hong Kong.”
     The government is taking the lead to make changes.
     Take the Commission as an example. Among the five highest-ranking officials in Mr. Li’s department, four are women.
     Other private organizations are also working towards a more balanced structure of employment.
     City Bus Limited and Kowloon Motor Bus Company are among them.
     City Bus Limited was the first bus company to employ female bus drivers.
     Miss Christine Lau, Corporate Communications Manager of the company, said that City Bus welcomed any qualified individuals.
     Until March 1997, City Bus had 18 female bus drivers working with 1,080 male ones.
     Kowloon Motor Bus Company adopted a policy of employing female bus drivers in 1989.
     Among the 7,031 bus drivers of KMB, 389 are female. This ratio is slightly higher than that of City Bus.
     These show that women now have more job opportunities than before.
     Said Miss Shana Wong Shan-nar, the senior equal opportunities promotion officer of the Equal Opportunity Commission: “We hope that people will know more about equal opportunity.
     “The most ideal thing is that one day Hong Kong does not need our Commission any more.”


Sidebar: 'Female Preferred'    Striving For the Best



October, 1997

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