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UN pans rights situation in Hong Kong

A UN committee has expressed concern over Hong Kong's economic, social and cultural rights, including "undemocratic features" in its election system and discriminations of race, sex and age.

In its first report since the territory's handover to China in 1997, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights also said it was "gravely concerned about the widespread and unacceptable incidence of poverty" in this former British colony and the lack of measures to tackle the problem.

The watchdog is responsible for monitoring the implementation of an international covenant on rights.

The report followed a visit by committee members to Hong Kong in January when they met with top government officials and various rights groups, and a return visit by officials to Geneva last month.

The report called for the setting up of an anti-poverty unit and more power to be given to the existing Women's Commission. The committee also said it was worried about hardship arising from the governments' policies on residence rights of Chinese families and wanted to see more transparency in the handling of split families.

A controversial move by Beijing to reverse a ruling of Hong Kong's top court in 1999 has limited the rights to reunion for thousands of families split between Hong Kong and China.

The body recommended a review of public order laws which it found restricted trade union activities including peaceful campaigns to promote labor rights.

It said the government had not, as promised, improved policies on unfair dismissal, minimum wage and other labor practices.

While recognizing that a legislature elected through universal suffrage was the ultimate aim, the committee said "undemocratic features" of present elections had impeded the full enjoyment of rights in Hong Kong.

On a more positive note, the committee commended the government on its housing policies and its programs for training unskilled and unemployed workers.
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