Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow says more policy areas will be covered by gender mainstreaming, an effective strategy in removing society's preconceived notions of women and address the specific needs of different women's groups.

Dr Chow told legislators today an analytical tool in the form of a gender mainstreaming checklist has been implemented in 13 policy areas to help the Government and other sectors take into full account the perspectives of both sexes in the formulation of their policies.

The policy areas are:

* healthcare reform, enhanced home and community care services for the elderly;

* family education;

* secondary school places allocation;

* district council reviews and review of advisory and statutory bodies;

* IT education in the community;

* design of facilities in public buildings;

* provision of public toilets;

* major publicity campaigns;

* review of composition of advisory committees and consumer education programmes; and,

* publicity programmes on electricity and gas safety.

Dr Chow said the checklist is being rolled out to other policy areas on an incremental basis. Plans are also being prepared to extend gender mainstreaming to more policy areas in 2005-06.

As for gender-related training for civil servants, 25 workshops and seminars have been organised for 700 staff since 2001. More training and information, including self-learning kits, seminars and workshops will be offered to enhance gender awareness in the civil service.