The statutory body is working with the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Department to push forward an amendment bill for the Race Discrimination Ordinance by the end of the legislative year.

Origins and residence status might be adopted to clarify the definition to better target cases of discrimination against mainlanders, Chu said yesterday.

"We hope to better regulate such cases with clearer definitions, but it can be complicated when it comes to the detailed definitions of origins and residence status," he said.

In cases involving accents and languages spoken, Chu said they could also be traced down to origin issues.

He said the amendment seeks to regulate discriminatory acts that are based not on accents or languages but on origins associated with such characteristics.

"For example, a Putonghua-speaking person may be discriminated against because of a certain province or place associated with others," he said. "That's what we think should constitute an illegal act."

Chu also said that while common scenarios applicable to anti-discrimination rules include employment, education, access to facilities and rental flats, past cases involving mainlanders could happen under circumstances not covered by present regulations.

"But if we extend the applicable scenarios too much, people might be overly sensitive regarding the issue, and it might be unfair when dealing with such cases," he said. "On the other hand, some past phenomena, such as mainland travelers being rudely treated, may not still be the case today."

Chu said that a research report had been submitted to the government in 2021 and related considerations had entered the closing stages. He is hoping that the process could be completed within the legislative year.