Compliance
Genuine Occupational Qualification (GOQ)
A lawful exception allowing discrimination if a protected characteristic is an inherent job requirement.
Definition
A 'Genuine Occupational Qualification' is a specific, narrowly construed exception under Hong Kong's anti-discrimination ordinances (e.g., SDO, DDO) where a person's sex or disability is an inherent and justifiable requirement for a particular job, making it lawful to discriminate on that ground. This exception is applied strictly to ensure the overarching principle of non-discrimination is maintained.