hongkonghumanrightscommission.doc

Hong Kong Human Rights Commission Society for Community Organization (SoCO) Submission to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Regarding the Initial report of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China August 2012 Hong Kong Human Rights Commission Address: 3/F, 52 Princess Margaret Road, Homantin, Hong Kong. Tel: (+852) 2713 9165 Fax: (+852) 2761 3326 e-mail: soco@.hk hkhrc@.hk website: .hk Executive Summary The United Nations’ “Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities” (“the Convention”) was entered into force in the Republic of China, including Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) since 31 August 2008, and Hong Kong SAR Government “HKSARG” submitted its initial report to the Committee on August 2011. The Convention aims to promote, protect and ensure all people with disabilities full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as to promote respect for the inherent dignity of persons with disabilities. The HKSARG, as a state party of the Convention, has the absolute responsibility to fulfill the obligation to implement the Convention and realize the rights of persons with disabilities. As the initial report to the United Nations Committee, the HKSARG should have schemed out the methods of institutional and structural revolution. However, as seen in the report, the HKSARG is neither determined to establish a mechanism to supervise the implementation of the Convention, nor shows an active attitude in replying the suggestions of local groups. Furthermore, the report, which ostensibly describes the local situation, intentionally covers up the plight suffered by the disabled in Hong Kong. In this shadow report, we would first have a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the Convention. Afterwards, we would focus on several main disabled groups, namely “persons with mental illness”, “elderly persons”, “children with disabilities” and “persons wi