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Regarding the education opportunities for Vietnamese children in the detention centres, he said the Hong Kong Government had provided assistance for secondary schools organised by Vietnamese migrants and non-government organisations and commissioned the International Social Service to co-ordinate the provision of secondary education in the detention centres.
On the broad human rights front, Mr Wong said Hong Kong's human rights "portfolio" had been enhanced by the addition of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
"China is, of course, a State Party to that Convention and has confirmed that - like the ICERD it will continue to apply to Hong Kong after the change of sovereignty on July 1 this year," he said.
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Meanwhile, a complementary development was the setting up of the Equal Opportunities Commission last May to ensure the implementation of the new laws against discrimination on the grounds of sex and disability, he said.
"The Commission started work in September last year and is now actively handling complaints and enquiries and disseminating the message of equal opportunities for all," he added.
As to the court proceedings, Mr Wong said: "We continue to extend the use of Chinese and to reduce court waiting time. We are taking steps to ensure that there will be no unreasonable delay in the hearing of cases brought under our Bill of Rights Ordinance and the new Sex Discrimination and Disability Discrimination Ordinances.
Delegation members will respond to questions raised by committee members when the meeting continues today (Tuesday, Geneva time).
End
Hong Kong signs Air Services Agreement with Myanmar
The Hong Kong Government today (Tuesday) signed an air services agreement with the Government of the Union of Myanmar.
The agreement was signed by the Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Stephen Ip, on behalf of the Hong Kong Government and the Deputy Director General of the Department of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transport, Myanmar, Mr Maung Maung Zan, on behalf of the Government of the Union of Myanmar.