The Equal Opportunities Commission will target primary and secondary school students in a campaign aimed at promoting gender equality and neutralising stereotypes, its chairperson says.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, Anna Wu said this will provide a platform for individual development and enable students to maximise their abilities, regardless of gender. The school curriculum may even include a study of equal-opportunities laws.

Another item at the top of the Commission's agenda is the elimination of discriminatory attitudes towards single-parent families, Ms Wu said.

There is a growing number of such  families in Hong Kong. That is why she is keen to promote understanding of the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance.

Ms Wu also suggested that a more systematic and focal approach should be adopted to promote women's knowledge of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Introduced in October 1996, it is sometimes referred to as an International Bill of Rights for Women.

Her remark came in view of the results of the Commission's telephone survey conducted between December 10 and 23 last year.

* Of the 1,528 respondents, 48% said they were not aware of the Convention if no description was given.

* More than half of the respondents were unsure or did not know that the Convention had been extended to Hong Kong.

* About 58% of them expressed a wish to be consulted on how to implement the Convention.

Ms Wu said the Commission will forward the findings to the Government to help formulate relevant future policies.

In a separate development, the Women's Commission is exploring the feasibility of setting up a Capacity Building Mileage Programme.

It aims to encourage women to better equip themselves through continuing education. Accredition will be given upon completion of courses under the programme.

The Government has also launched a series of public- education activities to boost awareness of gender equality.