Creation of IPCC welcomed by Committee Against Torture
The creation of the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) in Hong Kong has been regarded as a positive aspect by the United Nations Committee Against Torture after its hearing on the territory's initial report under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Degrading or Inhuman Treatment or Punishment.
Welcoming the Committee's observation in this aspect, leader of the Hong Kong team attending the hearing, Principal Crown Counsel, Mr Stephen Wong, said today (Friday, Geneva time) the dialogue was open and cordial.
He said the Committee appeared to have acknowledged the efforts made and difficulties encountered in the implementation of the Convention in Hong Kong.
Mr Wong also stressed the independence of the IPCC and new measures introduced or planned to be introduced in the territory's police complaint system.
Meanwhile, the Committee also expressed concern over the standard of detention of Vietnamese Migrants (VM) in the territory.
In response to a question on VMs raised by a Committee member, Mr Wong said the Hong Kong Government had no wish of detaining the VMs at all.
He pointed out that the Hong Kong Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have been counselling them to return to Vietnam voluntarily.
"Both the Hong Kong Government and the UNHCR have been trying to make the living conditions in the camps as amicable as possible within the resources available," he added.
As to the question on whether Hong Kong's laws on arrest and detention follow the practice of the United Kingdom, Mr Wong said the criminal justice systems of the UK and Hong Kong were not quite the same.
"We have to assess the impact very carefully before accepting certain recommendations of the Law Reform Commission (LRC) Report to ensure that the ability of our law enforcement agencies to fight crime is not impaired," Mr Wong said.
He also said the working group set up to consider the LRC recommendations hoped to be able to complete its work at the end of this year or early next year.