Hello! This is Gloria Lai from Hong Kong Branch.

In November 2016, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group has updated our Human Rights Policy as one of the elements that constitute its Basic Policy on Social Responsibility. This policy aims to build a sustainable society and respect human rights of all stakeholders involved in its corporate activities. The Human Rights Policy also clearly states that any discrimination against LGBT is prohibited.

As part of these efforts, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management, and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Business Services received a Gold Award in the PRIDE Index in 2020, the very first guideline in Japan prescribed by a non-profit organization called “work with Pride”, which aims to support the promotion and establishment of diversity management related to LGBT.

This achievement encouraged the commitments and efforts of our management team and employees in creating a diverse and inclusive workplace at Hong Kong Branch, through the raising of awareness, and introducing policies against LGBT discrimination.

In August 2021, Hong Kong Branch invited Wingbo Chan from “Rainbow of Hong Kong” to hold a seminar for our Branch staff to know more about LGBT. Rainbow of Hong Kong was founded on World AIDS Day, 1st December 1998. They aim to promote equal opportunities and sex education in the society, improve LGBT’s quality of life and provide diverse services and activities in response to community needs.

The seminar included an introduction of the basic knowledge of LGBT, a highlight of the common issues and difficulties that are facing by LGBT at the office and in the society, and a personal sharing of the life experience by the speaker. Besides, some minor voting games were prepared by the speaker to have an interaction with the audiences. And at the end of the seminar, there was an active participation by the audiences in the Q&A session.

Feedbacks from the audiences were positive, with an excellent impression to the speaker, who had delivered the seminar in such a relax atmosphere. Some audiences expressed their interests and willingness to learn more about LGBT through different channels, such as further case studies or more interactions with LGBT.