PH Consulate General in HK Join Racial Equality, Integration Day

Deputy Consul General Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan (first row, fifth from right) join other VIP guests at the public event in celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination organized by the Equal Opportunities Commission, in partnership with Radio Television Hong Kong, at E-Max, Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre on 3 March 2019. (Hong Kong PCG photo)

HONG KONG 11 March 2019 – The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong joined the consular corps, government officials, civil society, and the Hong Kong public in promoting racial equality and integration in Hong Kong during the observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination organized by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) on 3 March 2019.

Led by Deputy Consul General Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan, the Consulate General’s participation in the event, which was held in partnership with Radio Television Hong Kong at E-Max at the Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre, was crucial given that Filipinos comprise five percent of the territory’s working population of 7.39 million.

Filipinos number around 230,000 in Hong Kong, the largest foreign population by nationality according to the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, and their contribution to the economy and society, has been recognized by the Hong Kong government. Of this figure, 16,000 count as permanent residents.

In 2018, the EOC launched the Racial Diversity and Inclusion Charter for Employers was launched by the EOC as a guide to foster diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace.

Joan Odita, a Filipino customer service officer at AXA General Insurance HK Ltd., shared her experience as an ethnic minority employed in Hong Kong.

Deputy Consul General Aguilar-Usudan, who was accompanied by Consul Fatima G. Quintin, expressed the Consulate General’s pride of Ms. Odita at the sidelines of the event, having represented the Filipino community well during the sharing session. 

EOC is a statutory body set up in 1996 to implement Hong Kong’s anti-discrimination ordinances and to work towards the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of sex, marital status, pregnancy, disability, family status and race.

The Consulate General has been partnering with EOC in providing capacity building programs to Filipinos in the Territory, especially on sexual harassment and work discrimination.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. END

Ms. Joan Odita, a Filipino customer service officer at AXA General Insurance HK Ltd. (second from right), shares her experience as an ethnic minority employed in Hong Kong, during the public event in celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination organized by the Equal Opportunities Commission, in partnership with Radio Television Hong Kong at E-Max, Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre on 3 March 2019. (Hong Kong PCG photo)

Deputy Consul General Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan (second from left) and Consul Fatima G. Quintin (rightmost) take a souvenir snap with Equal Opportunities Commission Senior Equal Opportunities Officer Raymond Ho Wing-keung, and Ms. Joan Odita, a Filipino customer service officer at AXA General Insurance HK Ltd., at the public event in celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination organized by the Equal Opportunities Commission, in partnership with Radio Television Hong Kong at E-Max, Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre on 3 March 2019. (Hong Kong PCG photo)

For more information, visit www.hongkongpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinHK/.