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Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)

Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)
EOC stands for the Equal Opportunities Commission. It is a Hong Kong statutory body responsible for implementing ordinances meant to eliminate discrimination based on disability, family status, race and gender.
Raymond Lau Pak-hei, 25, an administrative assistant with cerebral palsy, was dismissed from a fitness centre after nine months of employment. Despite passing his initial probation, Lau believes his sudden layoff was triggered by the expiration of a government subsidy for hiring persons with disabilities rather than his job performance. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong society

Editorial | Workers with disabilities deserve Hong Kong’s respect and support

Better inclusion of Hong Kong’s workers with disabilities can help ensure they are respected as an asset to the city rather than a burden.

Hong Kong society

With fewer public spaces for Hong Kong’s helpers, where can they go to unwind?

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Hong Kong society

Hong Kong holds off on LGBTQ publicity drive. Is a community being forgotten?

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Hong Kong society

What’s behind the rise in firings linked to disability discrimination?

Complaints to Hong Kong’s equality watchdog about dismissals linked to suspected disability discrimination have doubled over past five years.

The complaints received by the EOC may only represent the tip of the iceberg, with Raymond Lau among those opting not to report potential discrimination. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong courts

Transgender student sues Hong Kong school over ‘discriminatory’ hair policy

Lawsuit alleges school ignored gender identity and subjected student to ‘public humiliation and rebukes’, causing distress and embarrassment.

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Hong Kong society

Editorial | Employers must tackle office culture as harassment complaints spike

Statistics point to a culture in which harassment is considered acceptable. Employers must make clear that misconduct will not be tolerated.

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Hong Kong society

Workplace sexual harassment complaints jump by 33% in Hong Kong

Equal Opportunities Commission recorded 315 sexual harassment complaints in total in 2025, up from 228 in previous year.

In 2021, the equality watchdog received 148 sexual harassment employment-related complaints. The figure rose to 207 last year. Photo: Getty Images
Ethnic minorities in Hong Kong

Editorial | Hong Kong must help ethnic minority groups bridge the digital divide

A recent report indicates ethnic minority groups in Hong Kong are not deriving as much benefit from online services as they could.

Hong Kong society

Letters | Start early, connect deeply: addressing Gen Z’s mental health crisis

Readers discuss how Hong Kong should respond to a survey on depression among the youth, and campaigns against sexual harassment for young people.

Hong Kong society

Official apps pose hurdles for Hong Kong’s ethnic minority groups, study finds

While more than 99 per cent own smartphones, only 55 per cent find information provided by government apps is user-friendly, equality watchdog says.

The study found that 18 per cent of respondents were native or fluent in Chinese, while 13 per cent were neither native nor fluent in English. Photo: Sam Tsang
Doxxing and cyberbullying

Primary school footballers, principal undeterred by online abuse during tournament

Man Kiu Association Primary School’s run during recent seven-a-side event attracted cyberbullying over players’ sizes, ethnic backgrounds.

Players from the Man Kiu Association Primary School football team faced complaints and online abuse during a tournament. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong in new push to get young people to register as voters

Youngsters will be exempted from producing proof of address to register as electors as part of campaign.

Hong Kong economy

Letters | An orderly Hong Kong can remain open and outward-looking

Readers discuss Western media reactions to the Jimmy Lai case sentencing, the city’s roads, and the need for public bodies to do more to protect residents’ interests.

Hong Kong society

Town planning body slammed for neglecting disabled people over Wan Chai plan

Ex-legislator among those calling for review to make development plan covering Sau Wa Fong and Nam Koo Terrace more barrier-free.

St Francis Street is a major thoroughfare in the neighbourhood connecting Queen’s Road East to the Starstreet Precinct, but its steep and narrow one-way path with a gradient of about 1:6 already poses barriers to residents with disabilities. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | 3 ways Hong Kong can keep the golden goose of ecotourism healthy

Readers discuss how to manage ecotourism, the safety of bamboo scaffolding, and empathy for people with disabilities.

Tourists go snorkelling at Sharp Island on October 4, during the National Day holiday. Photo: Dickson Lee
Racism and other prejudice

Letters | What the world loses when you quietly judge people by their accents

Readers discuss the richly diverse voices that are being silenced in Asia and beyond, and nipping racial prejudice in the bud in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong society

Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: author breaks barriers for disability inclusion

Sa’diyya Nesar, published author and TEDx speaker, has been nominated in the perseverance category of the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards.

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Hong Kong society

Axe ‘invisible barriers’ affecting people with disabilities: Hong Kong watchdog

Equal Opportunities Commission lays out eight recommendations for tackling discriminatory practices in new guide.

Hong Kong’s equality watchdog has urged service providers and property managers to eliminate “invisible barriers” that impact residents with disabilities. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong workers/labour rights

Editorial | Family-friendly workplaces would be a win-win for Hong Kong

Work-life balance isn’t just important for families; employers also benefit from offering flexible arrangements.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Editorial | Mental health support guide valuable for Hong Kong employers

The guide can help promote understanding and compliance with anti-discrimination laws that are still overlooked by many.

Hong Kong society

90% of Hong Kong HR staff say family-friendly policies lacking, poll finds

Equal Opportunities Commission urges government and employers to step up efforts to create more family-friendly workplaces.

The Equal Opportunities Commission has called on employers to establish written policies and allow for more flexible arrangements under inclement weather. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong equality watchdog issues mental health workplace support guide

Equal Opportunities Commission recommends adopting measures such as flexible work hours and regular breaks to help struggling employees.

The guide aims to educate employers about the signs that indicate an employee with mental health conditions may need support. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong society

Explainer | Facing racial discrimination in Hong Kong? Here’s what you need to know

Former senior business analyst lawsuit against HSBC for alleged racial discrimination brings topic into media spotlight.

Hong Kong society

Victims, experts want employers in Hong Kong to do more to tackle sexual harassment

Few victims report harassment because of unclear company policies, fear of what investigation might entail.

Crime in Hong Kong

Bangladeshi woman accuses Hong Kong law firm of sexually harassing her

Equal Opportunities Commission issues legal proceedings on behalf of Khan Saima Begum, who claims boss at WT Law Offices sexually and racially harassed her.

The Equal Opportunities Commission said it had issued legal proceedings in the District Court on behalf of the accuser. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong society

Parents slam kindergarten in Hong Kong for rejecting physically disabled son

British expat Alan Wells also expresses disappointment over watchdog’s stance that move by Teikyo Hong Kong Kindergarten was ‘justified’.

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British expat Alan Wells has said his son, who has spinal muscular atrophy, previously attended the site’s preschool. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Hong Kong society

Letters | Hong Kong should be a city where wheelchair users are welcome

Readers discuss cases of restaurants turning away customers in wheelchair, using ChatGPT to improve English-speaking abilities and discrimination against ethnic minority groups.

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong restaurant apologises for refusing entry to Paralympic gold medallist

Ho Yuen-kei was refused service at Thai restaurant when a staff member said her wheelchair would affect other diners.

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