2
Government pursues initiatives to secure human rights
The Government has continued to pursue a wide range of initiatives to secure and improve the enjoyment of human rights in Hong Kong, the Solicitor General, Mr Daniel Fung, QC, told the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) in Geneva today (Wednesday).
Mr Fung is leading a Hong Kong Government team, forming part of the British delegation, to attend a hearing on the supplementary report on Hong Kong specially requested by UNHRC when it examined the territory's fourth periodic report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) last October.
In his opening statement, Mr Fung highlighted a series of measures which was heralded in the fourth report and has now become a reality.
He said the Equal Opportunities Commission had started to operate last month while the new office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data had been established in August.
He also told the meeting the enactment of legislation for setting up an independent statutory Legal Aid Services Council, the introduction of legislation to make the Independent Police Complaints Council a statutory body with enhanced powers, the amendment of powers of the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the introduction of legislation which will extend the role of the Ombudsman.
Regarding court proceedings, Mr Fung said the Government continued to extend the use of Chinese, to reduce court waiting times and was taking steps to ensure that there would be no unreasonal le delay in the hearing of cases brought under the Bill of Rights Ordinance (BORO) and the new Sex Discrimination Ordinance and Disability Discrimination Ordinance.
"The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was extended to Hong Kong and effective on October 14 this year and agreement has been reached between Britain and China on the continued application of CEDAW to Hong Kong after June 30, 1997," he said.
On the changeover of sovereignty, Mr Fung said the Government was working hard to fulfil its part in a successful transition.
The Government was committed to co-operating with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Preparatory Committee and the Chief Executive (designate) when he or she was selected later this year, Mr Fung said.