XN000022-1996-10-02 — Page 2

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Implementation of UN convention requires concerted efforts

Successful implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child requires the concerted efforts of the community and the Government has been positively promoting compliance by the community at large, the Crown Solicitor, Mr Ian Wingfield, said in Geneva today (Wednesday).

Mr Wingfield is leading a Hong Kong Government team, forming part of the British delegation, to attend a two-day meeting of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child which examines the initial report of the implementation of the Convention in Hong Kong.

The Convention, adopted by UN in 1989 and extended to Hong Kong in 1994. reaffirms that children, because of their vulnerability, need special care and attention, and protection of their rights over a broad range of areas including education and health.

In an opening statement to the first-day hearing, he highlighted the measures adopted by the Government to implement the Convention.

Mr Wingfield said health and education perhaps served as the best indicators of the general well-being of children in Hong Kong.

He said the expenditure on health programmes in the current year represented 10.8 per cent of total public expenditure, while 17.5 per cent of the total public spending was budgeted for education.

He also pointed out that Hong Kong's infant mortality rate which, at 4.7 per 1,000 births in 1995, was among the lowest in the world.

He said this was attributable to many factors, including antenatal and postnatal care services. Furthermore, a comprehensive immunisation programme offered free to all children helped protect them against childhood infectious diseases.

Turning to education, Mr Wingfield noted that compulsory full-time education for children aged six to 15, funded by the biggest budget among the government's policy areas, had ensured that over 90 per cent of Hong Kong children completed upper secondary schooling, or equivalent vocational training.

For tertiary education, first year first degree places are taken up by 18 per cent of the population of the relevant age group.