Bills Committee on Race Discrimination Bill

Meeting on Thursday, 10 January 2008, at 9:00 am
in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building

Updated agenda

I.Confirmation of minutes
(9:00 am - 9:05 am)

LC Paper No. CB(2)738/07-08
(issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)739/07-08 on 4 January 2008)

-Minutes of meeting on 21 November 2007

II.Meeting with deputations and the Administration
(9:05 am - 11:55 am)

LC Paper No. CB(3)176/06-07
(issued on 1 December 2006)

-The Bill

Ref : HAB/CR/1/19/102
(issued by the Home Affairs Bureau on 29 November 2006)

-Legislative Council Brief

LC Paper No. LS14/07-08
(issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)380/07-08 on 16 November 2007)

-Paper entitled "Discussion drafts of Committee Stage amendments for Members' consideration" prepared by the legal adviser to the Bills Committee

LC Paper No. CB(2)2501/06-07(01)
(issued on 16 July 2007)

-Paper entitled "Scrutiny progress of the Bill" prepared by the Legislative Council Secretariat (revised version)

LC Paper No. CB(2)2753/06-07(01)
(issued on 2 October 2007)

-The Administration's response to the Legislative Council Secretariat's paper on "Scrutiny progress of the Bill"

  1. Christian Action
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)783/07-08(01)] (English version only)

  2. Alliance of Returning Chinese from Overseas Against Discrimination
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)783/07-08(02)] (English version only)

  3. Pakistan Islamic Welfare Union INC (HK) Ltd
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)783/07-08(03)] (English version only)

  4. Society for Community Organization
    (Joint submission from Society for Community Organization, Hong Kong Human Rights Commission, New Immigrants' Mutual Aid Association and Voices of the Rights of Asylum Seekers and Refugees)
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)798/07-08(01)] (Chinese version only)

  5. New Immigrants' Mutual Aid Association
    (Joint submission from Society for Community Organization, Hong Kong Human Rights Commission, New Immigrants' Mutual Aid Association and Voices of the Rights of Asylum Seekers and Refugees)
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)798/07-08(01)] (Chinese version only)

    [LC Paper No. CB(2)798/07-08(02)] (Chinese version only)

  6. Dr KEEZHANGATTE James Joseph, Honorary Lecturer, Department of Social Work & Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)775/07-08(02)] (English version only)

  7. Hong Kong Human Rights Commission
    (Joint submission from Society for Community Organization, Hong Kong Human Rights Commission, New Immigrants' Mutual Aid Association and Voices of the Rights of Asylum Seekers and Refugees)
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)798/07-08(01)] (Chinese version only)

  8. Voices of the Rights of Asylum Seekers and Refugees
    (Joint submission from Society for Community Organization, Hong Kong Human Rights Commission, New Immigrants' Mutual Aid Association and Voices of the Rights of Asylum Seekers and Refugees)
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)798/07-08(01)] (Chinese version only)

  9. Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor

  10. International Social Service Hong Kong Branch

  11. HK SKH Lady MacLehose Centre
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)759/07-08(01)] (Chinese version only)

  12. Civic Party
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)783/07-08(04)] (English version only)
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)798/07-08(03)] (English version only)

  13. Hong Kong Christian Service
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)759/07-08(02)] (Chinese version only)

  14. Employers' Federation of Hong Kong
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)783/07-08(05)] (English version only)

  15. Hong Kong Christian Institute
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)798/07-08(04)] (Chinese version only)

  16. Colours in Peace
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)798/07-08(05)] (English version only)

  17. Equal Opportunities Commission
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)759/07-08(03)]

  18. Hong Kong Discrimination Policies Concern Network
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)798/07-08(06)] (English version only)

  19. Hong Kong Women Christian Council
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)798/07-08(07)] (Chinese version only)

  20. YMCA of Hong Kong Cheung Sha Wan Centre
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)798/07-08(08)] (English version only)

  21. Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

  22. The Association for the Advancement of Feminism
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)901/07-08(01)] (Chinese version only)
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)901/07-08(02)] (Chinese version only)

  23. Dr Kelley LOPER, Research Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, The University of Hong Kong

  24. Hong Kong Unison
    [LC Paper No. CB(2)775/07-08(01)] (Chinese version only)

Written submission(s) from organisations/individuals not attending the meeting

LC Paper No. CB(2)759/07-08(04)
(English version only)(issued on 7 January 2008)

-Written submission from Mr Y K CHONG

LC Paper No. CB(2)775/07-08(03)
(issued on 8 January 2008)

-Written submission from Hong Kong Christian Council

LC Paper No. CB(2)783/07-08(06)
(English version only) (issued on 9 January 2008)

-Written submission from Mr Patrick YU

LC Paper No. CB(2)798/07-08(10)
(Chinese version only) (issued on 14 January 2008)

-Written submission from Hong Kong Catholic Commission for Labour Affairs

III.Any other business
(11:55 am - 12:00 noon)

(A list of relevant papers previously issued is available on the LegCo website at http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr06-07/english/bc/bc52/agenda/bc520110.htm)

Council Business Division 2
Legislative Council Secretariat
22 January 2008

Relevant papers previously issued

The Bill and background information

LC Paper No. LS18/06-07
(issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)647/06-07 on 13 December 2006)

-Legal Service Division Report on the Bill

LC Paper No. CB(2)859/06-07(01)
(issued on 15 January 2007)

-Background brief prepared by the Legislative Council Secretariat

LC Paper No. CB(2)1157/06-07(01)
(issued on 26 February 2007)

-Paper entitled "Issues relating to education for ethnic minorities" prepared by Legislative Council Secretariat

Appendix III to LC Paper No. CB(2)859/06-07
(issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)859/06-07 on 15 January 2007)

-Marked-up copy of the relevant provisions of ordinances to be amended by the Bill

Papers provided by the Administration

LC Paper No. CB(2)884/06-07(01)
(issued on 18 January 2007)

-Paper entitled "Home Affairs Bureau - Race Relations Unit"

LC Paper No. CB(2)884/06-07(02)
(English version issued on 18 January 2007; Chinese version issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)909/06-07 on 19 January 2007)

-Paper entitled "Support measures for non-Chinese speaking students"

LC Paper No. CB(2)2642/05-06(04)
(issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)884/06-07 on 18 January 2007)

-Paper entitled "Education for children of ethnic minorities"

LC Paper No. CB(2)963/06-07(02)
(English version issued on 26 January 2007; Chinese version issued on 29 January 2007)

-Paper entitled "Definition of 'race' "

LC Paper No. CB(2)963/06-07(03)
(English version issued on 26 January 2007; Chinese version issued on 29 January 2007)

-Paper entitled "Compatibility of the Race Discrimination Bill with the Basic Law and international human rights treaties"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1019/06-07(01)
(issued on 2 February 2007)

-Paper entitled "Education for the ethnic minorities"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1019/06-07(02)
(issued on 2 February 2007)

-Paper entitled "Discriminatory advertisements"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1019/06-07(03)
(issued on 2 February 2007)

-Paper entitled "Consequential amendments to other ordinances"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1019/06-07(04)
(English version issued on 2 February 2007; Chinese version issued on 6 February 2007)

-Paper entitled "Compatibility with Articles 24 and 25 of Basic Law"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1146/06-07(01)
(English version only)
(issued on 23 February 2007)

-Notes of a meeting of the Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony forwarded by the Administration

LC Paper No. CB(2)1152/06-07(01)
(English version issued on 23 February 2007; Chinese version issued on 27 February 2007)

-Paper entitled "Affirmative action"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1152/06-07(02)
(issued on 23 February 2007)

-Paper entitled "The Belgian Linguistics case"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1152/06-07(03)
(English version issued on 23 February 2007; Chinese version issued on 26 February 2007)

-Paper entitled "Propriety of support measures for ethnic minorities"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1152/06-07(04)
(English version only)
(Softcopy issued on 23 February 2007)

-Full text of the judgment of the Belgian Linguistics case

LC Paper No. CB(2)1351/06-07(01)
(English version issued on 19 March 2007; Chinese version issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)1381/06-07 on 20 March 2007)

-Paper entitled "Affirmative action in the United States"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1351/06-07(02)
(English version issued on 19 March 2007; Chinese version issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)1381/06-07 on 20 March 2007)

-Paper entitled "Follow-up information on education for the ethnic minorities"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1823/06-07(01)
(English version issued on 11 May 2007; Chinese version issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)1849/06-07 on 14 May 2007)

-Paper entitled "Indirect discrimination and assessment of justifiability"

LC Paper No. CB(2)2231/06-07(03)
(English version issued on 23 June 2007; Chinese version issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)2262/06-07 on 25 June 2007)

-Paper entitled "The difference between the 'reasonable practicability' test and the 'unjustifiable hardship' defence"

LC Paper No. CB(2)2573/06-07(01)
(issued on 30 July 2007)

-Paper entitled "Flexibility in the application of Chinese language requirement for the admission of non-Chinese speaking students into UGC-funded institutions"

LC Paper No. CB(2)2753/06-07(02)
(issued on 2 October 2007)

-Paper entitled "Comment of the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the applicability of the rationality and proportionality principle"

LC Paper No. CB(2)2753/06-07(03)
(issued on 2 October 2007)

-Paper entitled "Measures taken to assist new arrivals' integration to the local society"

LC Paper No. CB(2)2753/06-07(04)
(issued on 2 October 2007)

-Paper entitled "Discrimination by, or in relation to, barristers"

LC Paper No. CB(2)173/07-08(01)
(English version issued on 26 October 2007; Chinese version issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)212/07-08 on 30 October 2007)

-Administration's response to Professor Carole Petersen's submission entitled "How Many Clauses Does it Take to Define Discrimination? A Comparison of the Racial Discrimination Bill with Existing Legislation"

LC Paper No. CB(2)362/07-08(01)
(issued on 15 November 2007)

-Paper entitled "The Race Discrimination Bill and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights"

LC Paper No. CB(2)377/07-08(01)
(issued on 16 November 2007)

-Paper entitled "Admission of local non-Chinese speaking students to institutions funded by University Grants Committee and Further flexibility on application of Chinese language requirement"

LC Paper No. CB(2)513/07-08(01)
(issued on 5 December 2007)

-Paper entitled "Equality protection under Article 22 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights"

LC Paper No. CB(2)513/07-08(02)
(issued on 5 December 2007)

-Paper entitled "Response by the Administration to the outstanding issues raised by Bills Committee Members in relation to Clause 3"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1594/06-07(01)
(English version issued on 17 April 2007; Chinese version issued on 18 April 2007)

-The Administration's response to issues raised by deputations/individuals at the meeting on 3 March 2007

Correspondences between the Legal Service Division and the Administration/Papers prepared by the Legal Service Division

LC Paper No. LS32/06-07
(issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)969/06-07 on 26 January 2007)

-Paper entitled "The meaning of 'race' in race discrimination legislation of certain relevant overseas jurisdictions"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1104/06-07(01)
(English version only)
(issued on 14 February 2007)

-Paper on the case of Equal Opportunities Commission v Birmingham City Council

LC Paper No. LS48/06-07
(issued on 22 March 2007)

-Table of comparison of the provisions of the Race Discrimination Bill with those of the Race Relations Act 1976 of the United Kingdom

Written submissions

LC Paper No. CB(2)859/06-07(02)
(English version only)
(issued on 15 January 2007)

-Submission from "15 Teachers in the Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong"

LC Paper No. CB(2)859/06-07(03)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 15 January 2007)

-Submission from HKSKH Lady Maclehose Centre

LC Paper No. CB(2)976/06-07(01)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 30 January 2007)

-Submission from the Democratic Party

LC Paper No. CB(2)1146/06-07(02)
(English version only)
(issued on 23 February 2007)

-Submission from a member of the Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony

LC Paper No. CB(2)1146/06-07(03)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 23 February 2007)

-Submission from Federation of Hong Kong Guangdong Community Organizations

LC Paper Nos. CB(2)1147/06-07(01) & (02)
(English version only)
(issued on 23 February 2007)

-Submission from Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

LC Paper No. CB(2)1168/06-07(01)
(English version only)
(issued on 28 February 2007)

-Joint submission from Hong Kong Human Rights Commission, Society for Community Organization, New Immigrants Mutual Aid Association and Voices of the Rights of Asylum Seekers and Refugees

LC Paper No. CB(2)1168/06-07(02)
(English version only)
(issued on 28 February 2007)

-Submission from Hong Kong Integrated Nepalese Society

LC Paper No. CB(2)1168/06-07(03)
(English version only)
(issued on 28 February 2007)

-Submission from Pakistan Islamic Welfare Union Inc. (HK) Ltd

LC Paper No. CB(2)1168/06-07(04)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 28 February 2007)

-Submission from Professor G G WANG, School of Law, City University of Hong Kong

LC Paper No. CB(2)1168/06-07(05)
(issued on 28 February 2007)

-Submission from Equal Opportunities Commission

LC Paper No. CB(2)1168/06-07(06)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 28 February 2007)

-Submission from the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions

LC Paper No. CB(2)1168/06-07(07)
(English version only)
(issued on 28 February 2007)

-Submission from the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers

LC Paper No. CB(2)1168/06-07(08)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 28 February 2007)

-Submission from Tsim Sha Tsui District Kai Fong Welfare Association

LC Paper No. CB(2)1168/06-07(09)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 28 February 2007)

-Submission from Yau Tsim Mong Committee on Promotion of Hong Kong Economy

LC Paper No. CB(2)1168/06-07(10)
(English version only)
(issued on 28 February 2007)

-Submission from the Equal Opportunity Officer, The University of Hong Kong

LC Paper No. CB(2)1168/06-07(11)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 28 February 2007)

-Submission from the Association of Hong Kong Chinese Middle Schools

LC Paper No. CB(2)1202/06-07(01)
(English version only)
(issued on 1 March 2007)

-Submission from Employers' Federation of Hong Kong

LC Paper No. CB(2)1202/06-07(02)
(issued on 1 March 2007)

-Submission from HK SKH Lady Maclehose Centre

LC Paper No. CB(2)1202/06-07(03)
(English version only)
(issued on 1 March 2007)

-Submission from Vocation Training Council

LC Paper No. CB(2)1219/06-07(01)
(English version only)
(issued on 2 March 2007)

-Submission from Mr Y K CHONG

LC Paper No. CB(2)1219/06-07(02)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 2 March 2007)

-Submission from Hong Kong New Territories Commercial and Industrial General Association Tuen Mun Branch

LC Paper No. CB(2)1219/06-07(03)
(English version only)
(issued on 2 March 2007)

-Submission from Federation of Hong Kong Industries

LC Paper No. CB(2)1226/06-07(01)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 5 March 2007)

-Submission from Hong Kong Unison

LC Paper No. CB(2)1226/06-07(03)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 5 March 2007)

-Submission from Democratic Party

LC Paper No. CB(2)1226/06-07(04)
(English version only)
(issued on 5 March 2007)

-Submission from Mr Y K CHONG

LC Paper No. CB(2)1226/06-07(05)
(English version only)
(issued on 5 March 2007)

-Joint submission from the Coalition for Migrants Rights, Filipino Domestic Helpers General Union, Indonesian Migrant Workers Union, the Hong Kong Coalition of Indonesian Migrant Workers Organization, Far East Overseas Nepalese Association and Alliance of Progressive Labor, Hong Kong

LC Paper No. CB(2)1226/06-07(06)
(English version only)
(issued on 5 March 2007)

-Submission from Hong Kong Christian Service

LC Paper No. CB(2)1226/06-07(07)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 5 March 2007)

-Submission from Association of Mainland Overseas Returned Scholars in Hong Kong

LC Paper No. CB(2)1226/06-07(08)
(English version only)
(issued on 5 March 2007)

-Submission from Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Hong Kong

LC Paper No. CB(2)1226/06-07(09)
(English version only)
(issued on 5 March 2007)

-Submission from United Filipinos in Hong Kong

LC Paper No. CB(2)1243/06-07(01)
(English version only)
(issued on 6 March 2007)

-Submission from Dr KEEZHANGATTE James Joseph, Department of Social Work & Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong

LC Paper No. CB(2)1243/06-07(02)
(issued on 6 March 2007)

-Submission from Civic Party

LC Paper No. CB(2)1266/06-07(01)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 9 March 2007)

-Letter dated 27 February 2007 from Hong Kong Swatow Merchants Association Limited

LC Paper No. CB(2)1266/06-07(02)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 9 March 2007)

-Letter dated 3 March 2007 from members of the public

LC Paper No. CB(2)1226/06-07(02)
LC Paper No. CB(2)1288/06-07(01)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 12 March 2007)

-Joint submissions provided by Society for Community Organization, New Immigrants Mutual Aid Association, Hong Kong Human Rights Commission and Voices of the Rights of Asylum Seekers and Refugees

LC Paper No. CB(2)1325/06-07(01)
(English version only)
(issued on 15 March 2007)

-Submission from the Law Society of Hong Kong

LC Paper No. CB(2)1461/06-07(01)
(English version only)
(issued on 29 March 2007)

-Submission from Bar Association of Hong Kong

LC Paper No. CB(2)1668/06-07(01)
(English version only)
(issued on 23 April 2007)

-Submission from The Hong Kong Association of Banks

LC Paper No. CB(2)2232/06-07(01)
(English version issued on 21 June 2007, Chinese version to follow)

-Paper entitled "Hong Kong's Race Discrimination Bill: A Critique and Comparison with the Sex Discrimination and Disability Discrimination Ordinances" prepared by Professor Carole Petersen

LC Paper No. CB(2)2325/06-07(01)
(English version only)
(issued on 29 June 2007)

-Note from the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the Bill

LC Paper No. CB(2)2792/06-07(01)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 5 October 2007)

-Written submission made by a member of the public expressing concern about Clause 46 of the Bill

LC Paper No. CB(2)286/07-08(01)
(English version only)
(issued on 7 November 2007)

-Letter dated 30 October 2007 from Hong Kong Unison

Other papers

LC Paper No. CB(2)963/06-07(01)
(issued on 26 January 2007)

-List of issues raised by members at the meeting on 16 January 2007

LC Paper No. CB(2)1078/06-07(01)
(Chinese version only)
(issued on 12 February 2007)

-A summary of views expressed by a member of the public to the Complaints Division on the issue of racial discrimination

LC Paper No. CB(2)1284/06-07
(issued on 12 March 2007)

-Booklets about the life experience of South Asians in Hong Kong and on South Asian culture provided by Caritas-Hong Kong

LC Paper No. IN12/06-07
(issued on 25 April 2007)

-Information note entitled "Requirement for Chinese proficiency in seeking education and employment"

LC Paper No. CB(2)1994/06-07(01)
(issued on 29 May 2007)

-Paper entitled "Discrimination to which the Bill applies" prepared by the Legislative Council Secretariat

LC Paper No. CB(2)1594/06-07(03)
(issued on 17 April 2007)

-List of issues raised by members (as at 17 April 2007)

LC Paper No. CB(2)2231/06-07(01)
(English version issued on 23 June 2007; Chinese version issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)2262/06-07 on 25 June 2007)

-Paper entitled "Scrutiny progress of the Bill" prepared by the Legislative Council Secretariat

LC Paper No. CB(2)2231/06-07(02)
(English version issued on 23 June 2007; Chinese version issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2)2262/06-07 on 25 June 2007)

-List of issues raised by members (as at 30 May 2007)

LC Paper No. CB(2)231/07-08(01)
(issued on 1 November 2007)

-President's rulings on proposed Committee Stage amendments to the Interception of Communications and Surveillance Bill involving the consideration of charging effect issues

LC Paper No. CB(2)2753/06-07(05)
(issued on 2 October 2007)

-List of issues raised by members (as at 31 July 2007)

LC Paper No. CB(2)513/07-08(03)
(issued vide LC Paper No. CB(2) 537/07-08 on 6 December 2007)

-List of issues raised by members (as at 1 December 2007)

LC Paper No. CB(2)1594/06-07(02)
(English version issued on 17 April 2007; Chinese version issued on 20 April 2007)

-Major issues raised by deputations/individuals prepared by the Legislative Council Secretariat

LC Paper No. CB(2)160/07-08(01)
(issued on 26 October 2007)

-Views received from deputations/individuals on specific clauses of the Bill prepared by the Legislative Council Secretariat

LC Paper No. CB(2)1249/06-07(01)
(issued on 7 March 2007)

-List of questions raised by Hon CHOY So-yuk

LC Paper Nos. CB(2)658/07-08(01), (02) and (03)
(issued on 19 December 2007)

-The Equal Opportunities Commission's (EOC's) proposal to amend the Sex Discrimination Ordinance and the Disability Discrimination Ordinance submitted in 1999, the Administration's response to EOC's proposal, and the EOC's response

Council Business Division 2
Legislative Council Secretariat
22 January 2008