Press Release

On 6 March 2023, The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (“Committee”) issued the concluding observations (“CO”) on Hong Kong’s implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (“ICESCR”). The Committee’s observations are strong and clear, including concerns about reports that that the National Security Law (“NSL”) has de facto abolished the independence of the judiciary, and was used to undermine the academic freedom and the right to form trade unions.

The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (“Committee”) finished its review sessions of human rights situations of Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China yesterday in Hong Kong time. The Committee will issue the concluding observations on 6 March 2023 to elaborate the Committee’s concerns and recommendations for the three governments.

The Chinese delegation, comprised of 26 mainland Chinese officials, 10 Hong Kong officials and 3 Macau officials, have answered a number of questions raised by the Committee. However, the answers were mostly reiterating the official stances and denying all accusations, without admission of any violations of human rights or promises to improve.

The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (“Committee”) will hold meetings in Geneva from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 15 and 16 February 2023 (which is 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. of the same day in Hong Kong time) to discuss the human rights situations of Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China.

Hong Kong Centre for Human Rights (“HKCHR”) submitted a parallel report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (“Committee”) yesterday (16 January), which illustrated the actual human rights situation in Hong Kong in detail.