It’s time for laws that protect workers of all sexual orientations in Hong Kong

Alfred Chan and Todd Sears back calls for a public consultation on a law to protect sexual minorities, given the popular and corporate support for a more inclusive Hong Kong to make it truly ‘Asia’s world city’

Reading Time:3 minutes

The headquarters in New York of J.P. Morgan, which is among 13 top financial institutions to have signed a statement calling for a public consultation and legislation in Hong Kong to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:52pm, 21 Mar 2017Updated: 3:37pm, 27 Mar 2017

Hong Kong is at a tipping point for securing equality for its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community. More than half of Hongkongers support legislation against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status. And now, for the first time in Asia, such legislation has been called for by a diverse group of companies representing Hong Kong’s thriving business sector.

With a new leader and government due to be in place in July, now is the perfect time to start a public consultation on introducing legislation to protect the rights of LGBTI people at work and other areas of life in Hong Kong.

Almost 56 per cent of Hongkongers surveyed ... agreed that LGBTI individuals should be protected by law

The Equal Opportunities Commission, together with the Gender Research Centre at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, issued a joint statement last week. It calls on the government to launch a public consultation, and to introduce legislation against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status.

This follows the publication by the commission and research centre, over a year ago, of research indicating broad and fast-growing support for such legislation.

Almost 56 per cent of Hongkongers surveyed agreed that LGBTI individuals should be protected by law – double the percentage who thought this way in 2005.

The shift was even more pronounced among youths aged 18 to 24, nearly 92 per cent of whom considered such legislation necessary. And nearly half (49.8 per cent) of the people who described themselves as religious concurred. The study was the most comprehensive research of its kind ever conducted in Hong Kong.

It’s time for laws that protect workers of all sexual orientations in Hong Kong

Alfred Chan and Todd Sears back calls for a public consultation on a law to protect sexual minorities, given the popular and corporate support for a more inclusive Hong Kong to make it truly ‘Asia’s world city’

Hong Kong ready for anti-discrimination laws to protect LGBT people - and government must act now, study says