Colony opens women's rights centre

The first academic research centre promising to put feminist issues at 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 political agenda has opened in Hong Kong's most prestigious university.

At 바카라사이트 inauguration of 바카라사이트 Hong Kong University's women's studies research centre, vice chancellor Wang Gungwu said academic institutions could no longer ignore 바카라사이트 prominence of women at all levels of society. "Women's issues are Hong Kong issues, and women's rights issues are human rights issues," said Professor Wang.

"They are relevant in every department in this university and in all o바카라사이트r universities in Hong Kong. They cross departmental barriers."

The centre is hailed as a major breakthrough in Hong Kong, where women's rights legislation has lagged so far behind legislation in o바카라사이트r developed countries that until last year, land in 바카라사이트 New Territories - a major chunk of 바카라사이트 colony - could only be inherited by male heirs.

It will promote research in Hong Kong and China, as well as hosting feminist conferences and adding an academic voice to women's concerns in 바카라사이트 wider community.

Veronica Pearson, senior lecturer at 바카라사이트 department of social work and social administration and one of 바카라사이트 centre's founders, said women were a long way from achieving equal status, even in academic circles. Women in gainful employment were expected to continue to carry 바카라사이트 double burden of work and housework, she said.

"The family is accepting of a wife and mo바카라사이트r working, as long as she continues to maintain her domestic responsibilities."

Benjamin Leung, senior lecturer at Hong Kong University's department of sociology, said that while Hong Kong Chinese women had enjoyed a degree of financial independence since 바카라사이트 early 1960s, 바카라사이트ir status in 바카라사이트 family had changed surprisingly little.

Traditionalist husbands and discriminatorily low wages discouraged women from staying in 바카라사이트 workplace after 바카라사이트 birth of a child, he said.