XN000022-1996-10-11 — Page 2

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Government welcomes UN observations on children's rights

The Government today (Friday) welcomes the advice and suggestions in the Concluding observations released by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child after an examination on October 2 and 3 of the initial report in respect of Hong Kong under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

"The observations will be carefully considered by the concerned policy branches," a government spokesman said.

The Committee highlighted a number of positive aspects in Hong Kong's implementation of the Convention. These included the enactment of the Disability Discrimination Ordinance, the improvements to the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, the five research projects on children's welfare and child abuse being undertaken by universities and funded by the Government, and the enactment of the Parent and Child Ordinance in 1993, which removed the legal disadvantages previously suffered by illegitimate children.

The spokesman said the Government was glad that its efforts were recognised by the Committee.

"We note that the Committee has also expressed appreciation for our measures to promote awareness of common adolescent health problems, the Student Health Ambassador scheme for secondary school students, the launching of the new Student Health Service, the establishment of a Health Care and Promotion Fund and measures to make hospitals more baby and child friendly," he said.

In response to the Committee's comment on the continued application of the Convention to Hong Kong, the spokesman said: "It has been agreed in the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group (JLG) that the Convention will continue to apply to Hong Kong after June 30, 1997.

"Matters relating to reservations and declarations as well as reporting arrangements are being discussed in the JLG. It should be noted, though, that these reservations and declarations entered in 1994 took into account certain circumstances in Hong Kong which still exist now.

"Other matters relating to the legislative and administrative measures to implement the Convention are for the Hong Kong Government and after June 30, 1997, for the SAR Government - to act upon."