ENG-2011 — Page 79

The Legal System | 43

The UN Human Rights Council conducts a Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of human rights in all UN member states. The HKSAR's report is submitted as part of China's report for the review.

With the exception of the ICCPR, the HKSAR teams attend hearings of relevant treaty bodies as part of the Chinese delegation. In the case of the ICCPR, the HKSAR attends hearings under the leadership of the Chinese Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the UN.

In 2011, the Government prepared the HKSAR's report under the CEDAW for incorporation in China's corresponding report for submission to the UN.

Promotion of Racial Equality and Harmony

The Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony

The Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony was established in 2002. It advises the Government on the promotion of racial harmony and equality, including provision of support services to ethnic minorities, and on proposals for race related public education and publicity. Secretariat support is provided by the Race Relations Unit.

Support Services for Ethnic Minorities

The Race Relation Unit was set up in June 2002 to promote the interests of ethnic minorities. The support services for ethnic minorities, including the work of the unit, was transferred from the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau to the Home Affairs Department (HAD) in April 2011.

At present, the HAD commissions four non-government organisations ('NGOs') to run four support service centres for ethnic minorities, which started operations in 2009. These centres provide various tailor-made learning classes, counselling and integration programmes. One of the centres also provides a free language. interpretation service on the telephone to assist ethnic minorities in their use of public services. The HAD also sponsors two community support teams to provide special services for the ethnic minority groups through members of their own communities. In addition, it provides funding for operating radio programmes in three ethnic minority languages, publish service guidebooks in English and six ethnic minority languages, implement the Harmony Scholarship Scheme and provides other support services to help them integrate into the community.

In 2011-12, the HAD set up a dedicated team to enhance collaboration with NGOs and local organisations to step up efforts to facilitate the early integration of ethnic minorities and new arrivals from the Mainland into the community. The HAD made good use of its district networks, including District Offices and the services of NGOs and local organisations, in advancing the cause. Various initiatives were introduced. For example, the 'District-based Integration Programmes' were launched to help them better understand Hong Kong, encourage them to participate more in community activities and facilitate their early integration into the society.