‘Signing cheques’: head of Hong Kong equality watchdog accedes to requests from LGBT groups

The city’s equality chief has promised to push for public consultation over sexual minority anti-discrimination legislation and to act as a liaison between LGBT groups and the administration over various issues, said local concern groups.

In his first meeting with representatives of LGBT rights concern groups on Tuesday evening, Equal Opportunities Commission chairman Alfred Chan Cheung-ming acceded to all five requests made. These included pushing the government to conduct public consultation as a prerequisite for establishing an anti-discrimination law to protect sexual minorities, said representative Yeo Wai-wai.

“He signed off a few ‘cheques’ at that meeting. What remains now is to see if any real action will follow,” Yeo added.

Yeo said that Chan promised to be a liaison between groups and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to discuss giving transgender people the option to remove the “gender code” – honorifics such as Miss or Mr – in front of their names on bank documents. He also said he would liaise with the government over setting up disabled toilets as “transgender friendly” facilities.

Both of these changes will greatly benefit transgender people who are transitioning and help them in their daily lives, Yeo said.