XN000022-1996-11-26 — Page 6

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Mr Fung said that on July 1, 1997, or in barely 200 days, Hong Kong would become a Special Administrative Region of China, preserving its own lifestyles and heedoms with its own Chief Executive, executive authorities, legislature and judiciary, operating its own legal system based on the common law and enjoying full monetary and fiscal autonomy subject to important conditions and safeguards.

"The Hong Kong Government is working hard to fulfil its part in a successful transition. It is committed to cooperating with the Preparatory Committee and the Chief Executive (Designate) when selected next month," he added.

Briefing members of the UNCESCR on a few of the more significant and recent developments in Hong Kong, Mr Fung said, "In April this year, we implemented a comprehensive package of improvements to enhance the assistance provided under our social security system so that it continues to meet the basic and special needs of financially vulnerable people in Hong Kong."

"In March this year, we provided additional funding to the Employees Retraining Board to facilitate the provision of retraining programmes for workers affected by the economic restructuring process so as to help them re-enter the job market.

"Over the course of the last year, we have been able to reduce our unemployment rate from a peak figure of 3.6 per cent to a more customary level, for Hong Kong, of 2.6 per cent."

Mr Fung also explained that the first Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data was appointed in August this year and the relevant Ordinance would come into effect in December.

In the area of equal opportunities, Mr Fung said that following the enactment of the Sex Discrimination and Disability Discrimination Ordinances, Hong Kong established its Equal Opportunities Commission in May and the Commission started work in September.

He added that last month, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was extended to Hong Kong, and Britain and China had agreed that this treaty would continue to apply to Hong Kong after June 30, 1997,

Mr Fung pointed out to the Committee hearing the problem that Hong Kong had. "Hong Kong has its problems. Two of the most critical challenges facing us are the inter-related issues of a rising population and the demand for housing," he said.