Press Releases
Hearing of the HKSAR's report under CEDAW
In response to media enquiries, a Government spokesman clarified today (August
16) that the Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food (Health and
Welfare), Ms Sandra Lee, had reported to the CEDAW Committee that during a
recently restored hearing of the judicial review applications initiated by two
torture-claimant families, the court had remarked that the overall package of
assistance (i.e. accommodation, medical assistance, food, education allowance)
provided by the Government in conjunction with non-governmental organisations
was sufficient to meet the standard set by Article 7 of the International
Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and Article 3 of the Hong Kong Bill of
Rights Ordinance of avoiding destitution.
Ms Lee did not say any words to the effect that there was a court ruling on
Government��s refugees policy, the spokesman added.
On the attendance of the Chairperson of the Women's Commission at the hearing,
the spokeman said: "the HKSARG has responded positively to the CEDAW's
concluding remarks in 1999, and set up the Women's Commission as a high level
central mechanism to advise and assist the government on women's issues.
"The presence of the Chairperson of the Women's Commission in the HKSARG
delegation to attend the CEDAW hearing in New York is a testimony of the
HKSARG's commitment to discharging its obligations under CEDAW, and the
importance we attach to the work of the Commission to help champion women's
interests in Hong Kong.
"During the last CEDAW hearing held in 1999, the CEDAW Committee urged the
HKSARG to set up a central mechanism for the advancement of women in Hong Kong,
and for developing policy and long-term strategies on gender equality. In
response to the concluding comments, the HKSARG set up the Women��s Commission in
2001," the spokesman explained.
The CEDAW Committee of the UN held a hearing in New York on August 10 on the
second report submitted by the HKSAR, as part of China's report, under the
Convention. The Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food (Health and
Welfare) led a 10-member HKSAR team to attend the CEDAW hearing. At the hearing,
she explained to the CEDAW Committee the contents of the second report, and the
progress of implementing the Convention in Hong Kong since February 1999, when
the Committee last examined the HKSARG's initial report.
Ends/Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:50
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