International Law and

Racial Discrimination

in Hong KongSOSC 127 International Law

We want to find out…• the content of International Law on co

mbating racial discrimination

• 在國際法中有關種族歧視的內容

• the relationship between the content and Hong Kong

• 該些內容和香港的關係

• the prevalence of racial discrimination here

• 種族歧視在香港的普遍程度

• the measures that are currently taken by the local government

• 本港政府已作出的措施

• the things that the government can do further

• 本港政府於未來可作出的措施

About the law …

• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

• 消除一切形式種族歧視國際公約

• each State Party shall prohibit and bring to an end, by all appropriate means, including legislation as required by circumstances, racial discrimination by any persons, group or organization

• 公約成員國必須採取任何適當方法(包括立法 , 因應環境需要 ) 來禁止及停止由個人、組别或組織引起的種族歧視

With Hong Kong…• the Convention was extended to Hong

Kong in 1969 by the British Government.

• 英國政府於 1969年把該條約擴展至香港

• the Convention continues to apply to Hong Kong after 1997

• 回歸後，該條約仍適用於本港

Situations here…• According to 2001 Census, 5% (or 344,00

0) of Hong Kong’s residents are non-Chinese.

• 根據 2001年的人口普查 , 非華裔人士佔香港人口 5%

• Largest subgroups are of South and Southeast Asian origin.

• 最大的族群來自南亞和東南亞地區

• Most of these belong to the lower socioeconomic level.

• 大部份來自較低的社會經濟階層

Population by Ethnicity, 2001

Ethnicity Number % of Total

Chinese 6 364 439 94.9

Filipino 142 556 2.1

Indonesian 50 494 0.8

British 18 909 0.3

Indian 18 543 0.3

Pakistani 11 017 0.2

Nepalese 12 564 0.2

Thai 14 342 0.2

Japanese 14 180 0.2

Others 61 345 0.9

Total 6 708 389 100.0

• ‘Racial Discrimination in Hong Kong Prevalence and Impact’ by CUHK in 2004

• 根據中文大學於 2004年的報告

• Main forms of discrimination as an inability to benefit from their rights (43%), hatred towards other races (42%), being ignored (41%) as well as misunderstanding of others’ cultural traditions (40%).

• 主要的歧視形式為權利的剝削 (43%); 種族憎恨 (42%); 受到忽視 (41%)及對異國文化傳統的誤解 (40%)

Racial Discrimination occurs at…

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Employment

Admissi

on Sale

Government se

rvices

Accomodatio

nMedi

cal

Education

Business

Others

Employment• Majority employed as Foreign domestic

workers • 大部份的人口受聘為外傭

• One third work in Elementary occupation

• 三份一的人口從事基本工作

• Encounter difficulties in finding jobs, job interview and promotion.

• 在找尋 , 應徵工作和晉升時遭遇困難

• High unemployment rate among ethnic minorities.

• 失業率尤其高企

• According to a SoCO Survey in 2001, the main reasons are their Race and Proficiencies in local language, Cantonese.

• 根據香港社會組織協會於 2001的調查 , 主要因為種族和語言障礙

Admission to facilities• Huge difficulties in entering priv

ate facilities. • 於進入私人設施時遇到困難

• Sliding-scale of entrance fees based on colour-coding system.

• 根據膚色而定的入場費

• Especially in nightclubs and bars.• 特別是夜總會和酒吧

Sale/ Delivery of goods and services• Discrimination occurs mainly in

shops, markets and restaurants.• 歧視最主要發生在商店 , 市場和餐廳

• Receive impolite services and Priority often given to Chinese and Westerners

• 不友善的服務態度及中國人和西方人有優先的服務提供

Accommodation

• Reluctant services from property agents and unwillingness of landlords to rent flats to minorities.

• 地產經紀不情願的服務態度及房東不樂意租借住宅

• A stereotype of poor and dirty.• 被誤解為貧窮和污穢

Receiving social services• Discrimination occurs mainly in Labour

Department and in public hospitals.• 主要在勞工處和公立醫院

• Language barriers, insensitivity of government officials, and discrimination by community residents limit their access to social resources.

• 語言障礙 , 政府官員的不敏感及社區的歧視妨礙他們使用社會資源

Education• There are limited school choices and pl

aces. The mother tongue teaching policy has limited the numbers of schools available for non-Chinese speaking students.

• 在母語教育政策下 ,只有少量合適的學校及學位 .

• Heavy school fees burden.• 沈重的學費負擔

• A lack of information about the education system and the school placement system .

• 缺乏關於教育制度和學位分配的資訊

• A lack of coherent policy in relation to ethnic minority students and Pre-job trainings and other resources.

• 欠缺統一的教育政策 , 職前培訓及其他資源

Petitioning Hong Kong’s Legislative Councillors in March 2003 before the debate introduce racial discrimination legislation initiated by Audrey Eu

Bill of Rights Ordinance• Applied to Hong Kong since 1991 • 於 1991年生效• Part of implementation to the ICCPR

• Specifically, under Article 22, ‘prohibits the Government and all

public authorities, and any person acting on behalf of the Government or a public authority, from engaging in practices that entail racial discrimination.’

Measures taken…• Mainly public education and practical as

sistance.• 教育及實際性援助

• An Equal Opportunities Funding Scheme which the government sponsor NGOs and grassroots organizations annually, to disseminate the message through community projects.

• 平等機會資助計劃 , 舉辦社區活動宣傳平等信息

• Leaflets, poster campaigns, and school talks.

• 傳單 , 海報設計活動 , 學校講座

• In June 2002, the Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony was established by the Secretary for Home Affairs.

• 在 2002年 6月 ,促進種族和諧委員會成立

• Initiation of promotional and educational measures and activities.

• 負責展開宣傳及教育活動

• The Race Relations Unit established, as secretariat of the committee.

• 種族關係組成立 , 為委員會提供秘書處服務

• Hotline, radio programmes in minority languages and thematic Sunday cultural programme.

• 熱線 , 以少數族裔語言開辦的電台節目 , 星期日主題文化節目

• After-school support and self-help team.

• 課後支援及自助小組

Education

• Inclusion of non-Chinese speaking students policy by the Education and Manpower Bureau introduced to public.

• 教育統籌局推行融合非華裔學生的教育政策政策

• Language classes and service guidebooks provided.

• 開辦語文班及派發服務小冊子

Employment• Same rights and benefits under the labour laws

as local citizens• 在勞工法下享有同等權利

• "Code of Practice Against Discrimination in Employment on the Ground of Race" was issued in 1998, to encourage employers to apply consistent criteria through out the employment process.

• Youth Pre-employment Programme and the Young Ambassador Scheme 青年職前培訓及青年大使計劃

Social Services• All eligible Hong Kong residents have access

to welfare benefits under the Bill of Rights and Article 36 of the Basic Law.

• 根據基本法 , 合法香港居民均享有福利

• Social Welfare Department is responsible to provide a wide range of services include childcare, community support, and so forth to help all ethnic minorities and other citizens.

• 社會福利署提供多項服務 : 如兒童和社會支援

Legislation• Hong Kong has an obligation to le

gislate under International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)

• No legislation that prohibits all forms of racial discrimination on the part of private individuals or organizations at present

• 現時沒有法律禁止來自個人及私人機構的種族歧視

• In 2003, the HAB announced plan of legislation and drafted on consultation paper.

• 在 2003年民政事務局宣佈有意立法及開始草擬

• A Consultation Paper entitled ‘Legislating Against Racial Discrimination was introduced to public in September 2004.

• 條例諮詢草案於 2004年推出

The current news…

Criticism…

• criticized by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in 2001

• 經濟、社會及文化權利委員會於 2001年提出批評

We suggest…

• Legislation

• 立法

• Education

• 教育

• Social Services

• 社會服務

Legislation…

• The proposed ordinances can have a wider coverage on protecting the minorities

• 建議的立法可在更多方面保障少數族裔

Education…

• through mass media

• 透過大眾媒介

• cooperation from schools

• 學校合作

Social services…• active provide of service

• 主動提供服務

Q & A session…