The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has issued its concluding observations on a report filed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau announced today.

The fourth report of the Hong Kong SAR under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women forms part of the ninth periodic report of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

“In its concluding observations, the committee has noted with appreciation the relevant legislative reform in the Hong Kong SAR and welcomed the increase of resources for the Women's Commission,” the bureau said.

“The committee has also commented and made recommendations on a number of areas, which the Hong Kong SAR Government will conscientiously consider and positively respond to as far as practicable, duly taking into account the local circumstances.”

The bureau noted the committee appreciates that the PRC as a State Party submitted its ninth periodic report, including the Hong Kong SAR's fourth report.

The committee also appreciates the written replies to the list of issues and questions, and welcomes the high-level Chinese delegation which participated in the dialogue at its meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland.

The delegation, which comprised of representatives from the Hong Kong SAR Government, made an oral presentation and provided further clarification in response to the committee's oral questions.

The committee will inform the PRC on the due date of submitting its next report under the convention at a later stage.

It will contain the next report of the Hong Kong SAR Government which will set out, among others, the detailed response to the committee's concluding observations.

In the interim, the Hong Kong SAR Government will provide the necessary information in accordance with the committee's request by May 2025.
 

The bureau stressed that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to further promote the realisation of women's due status, rights and opportunities in all aspects of life, in a continuing process of faithfully implementing the convention.
 

The committee's concluding observations will be uploaded to the bureau's website.