XN000022-1995-05-17 — Page 23

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SHA on declaration of world summit for social development

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council motion debate on declaration of world summit for social development today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

The Administration welcomes this opportunity to hear Members' views on the Commitments agreed by the UN member states, including Britain and China, at the World Summit for Social Development in March this year.

These Commitments cover nearly every form of human activity with a focus on, three core issues - alleviating poverty, reducing unemployment and promoting social integration. They are a consensus of the concerns, interests and priorities of all UN member states.

The Summit did not create any mandates or institute new programme of work. Implementation of the Declaration and the Programme of Action is left for each country to decide in the light of its own domestic priorities and policies. The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations will be considering what follow- up action is appropriate within the UN system.

We will ensure that the goals of the Summit are publicised in Hong Kong. As for all the UN Covenants and Conventions, we will prepare a bi-lingual booklet of the main recommendations and make this available through resource centres, public libraries and District Offices. We will also promote the objectives and conclusions of the Summit through publicity programmes.

The Commitments made at the Summit bring home how much there is to be proud of in Hong Kong. The Summit looked at the problems of the world and saw

many

rich nations with high unemployment, disaffected youth, racial tensions, high crime rates and political instability, or

desperately poor nations with problems of starvation and rampant disease, with constant warfare ravaging an uneducated population most of whom had not even the most basic of human rights.

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