Hong Kong Ordinances

SEX DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE - SECT 55

Trade unions, etc.: elective bodies

(1) If an organization to which section 16 applies comprises a body the
membership of which is wholly or mainly elected, nothing in that section shall
render unlawful provision which ensures that a minimum number of persons of
one sex are members of the body-

   (a)  by reserving seats on the body for persons of that sex; or

   (b)  by making extra seats on the body available (by election or co-option
        or otherwise) for persons of that sex on occasions when the number of
        persons of that sex in the other seats is below the minimum, where in
        the opinion of the organization the provision is in the circumstances
        needed to secure a reasonable lower limit to the number of members of
        that sex serving on the body; and nothing in Part III, IV or V shall
        render unlawful any act done in order to give effect to such a
        provision.

(2) This section shall not be taken as making lawful-

   (a)  discrimination in the arrangements for determining the persons
        entitled to vote in an election of members of the body, or otherwise
        to choose the persons to serve on the body; or

   (b)  discrimination in any arrangements concerning membership of the
        organization itself. (Enacted 1995)