XN000022-1994-12-10 — Page 3

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"The introduction of the Bill of Rights Ordinance, the adoption of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, and the proposed extention of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women are examples."

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He said the Hong Kong Government had a good record on human rights protection, but added that there was no room for complacency.

"The Committee's report offers advice and makes recommendations on a number of matters which would be carefully examined by relevant branches and departments," he noted.

Concerning the Committee's remarks on people living in bedspace apartments, the spokesman said the Government was tackling the problem vigorously.

"The Government is committed to ensuring that lodgers will get assistance through various channels including compassionate re-housing; placements in welfare institutions or hostel accommodation. Many, however, have chosen to stay in their old accommodation for personal reasons." He added that Government had introduced legislation to license all bedspace apartments to regulate their building and fire safety and sanitation standards.

"Upon full implementation of the licensing scheme in 1996, bedspace apartment lodgers will live in apartments which meet the safety standards and are less crowded," he said.

Noting that the number of bedspace apartments and lodgers had fallen over the past years, the spokesman said this was indicative of a general improvement in the overall situation.

On the Committee's concern about foreign domestic helpers, the spokesman pointed out that the "two-week rule" was a necessary measure to prevent job-hopping to protect employers and the labour market generally.

"The Director of Immigration applies the rule flexibly when dealing with foreign domestic helpers who appear to have legitimate grounds for change of employment after early termination of their contracts, in particular when their employers do not seem to have fulfilled their contracts, or if the foreign domestic helper has a complaint which may be considered by the Labour Tribunal.

"The rule is not a discriminatory measure against foreign domestic helpers as it is applied on all contract workers, including those who came into Hong Kong under the Importation of Labour Scheme," he said.