| Hong Kong’s Civic Party legislator Margaret Ng and a representative, Medeleine Mok, formed part of an NGO delegation taking part in a United Nations Hearing on Racial Discrimination in Geneva, Switzerland. They met on August 6 with 14 members of the Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination. During an hour-long briefing, they reported problems in Hong Kong relating to the Race Discrimination Ordinance.
Committee member Ion Diaconu of Romania asked why not all government functions are covered by the law. While states often enact anti-discrimination laws that exclude private acts, Diaconu said it may be the first time the committee had heard of a state wanting to exclude government actions from legal protection. He said the law should ensure non-discrimination in the enjoyment of all human rights.
Other topics included new arrivals from the Chinese mainland, education and language discrimination and discriminatory attitudes by the Hong Kong police.
Pansy Hoi
Civic Party, Hong Kong
(September 14, 2009)
Hong Kong delegates make their presence known.
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