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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1994
HE NOTED THAT HONG KONG FULLY OBSERVED AND RESPECTED INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND STANDARDS ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND ABIDED BY A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS (ICCPR) AND THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS (ICESCR).
FURTHER, THE UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD HAS RECENTLY BEEN EXTENDED TO HONG KONG, AND THE GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING THE EXTENSION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW) TO HONG KONG.
LABOUR
IN ADDITION, HE SAID HONG KONG APPLIED 49 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS, WHICH COMPARED FAVOURABLY WITH MOST MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY INTRODUCED A SEX BILL INTO THE LEGISLATURE.
DISCRIMINATION
HE ADDED THAT A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES WERE BEING TAKEN TO FACILITATE THE HANDLING OF HUMAN RIGHTS DISPUTES, INCLUDING GIVING MORE RESOURCES TO THE JUDICIARY TO ENABLE IT TO OPEN SEPARATE LISTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS CASES AND MAKING LEGAL AID MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE PURSUING CLAIMS UNDER THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
"WE ARE DETERMINED TO MOVE AHEAD ON THESE AND OTHER INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO ENHANCE OUR EXISTING SYSTEMS AND TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE SHORTCOMINGS," HE SAID.
NOTING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT COMPLACENT, HE SAID: "WE ARE AWARE THAT THERE ARE AREAS IN WHICH WE HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE FULLY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF ICESCR OR WHERE IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE TO THE EXISTING SYSTEMS."
"WE WILL ATTEMPT TO REMAIN VIGILANT AND STRIVE CONTINUOUSLY ΤΟ ATTAIN THE STANDARDS LAID DOWN UNDER THE COVENANT, HE SAID.
MR FUNG SAID THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT REGARD THE PRESENT HEARING AS BEING ADVERSARIAL IN NATURE.
BOTH NGOS AND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE LEGITIMATE AND COMPLEMENTARY ROLES TO PLAY IN THIS PROCESS, THE FORMER TO DRAW TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMITTEE WHAT THEY REGARD AS THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE DOMESTIC REGIME WHILE THE LATTER IS HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ARISING FROM THE WRITTEN REPORT AND ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMITTEE SO AS ULTIMATELY TO ASSIST THE COMMITTEE IN ARRIVING AT A FAIR, ACCURATE AND BALANCED VIEW OF THE STATE OF HEALTH OF HUMAN RIGHTS ENJOYED BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.
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