Human Rights Report

This page consists of the relevant human rights reports and information submitted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR):

 

United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) was created by the UN General Assembly by its Resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 to replace the UN Commission on Human Rights under the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Among its primary responsibilities, it was charged with the responsibility to – “ undertake a universal periodic review, based on objective and reliable information, of the fulfilment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments in a manner which ensures universality of coverage and equal treatment with respect to all States; the review shall be a cooperative mechanism, based on an interactive dialogue, with the full involvement of the country concerned and with consideration given to its capacity-building needs; such a mechanism shall complement and not duplicate the work of treaty bodies ... ”. In pursuance of this mission, the HRC has decided to conduct UPR on the human rights situation of the UN Member States since 2008. Each Member State under review is required to provide relevant information setting out, among other things, the background of the country and the framework for promotion and protection of human rights, as well as its achievement and challenges in this regard.

The HKSAR has submitted a total of four reports under the UPR. The latest one (i.e. the report under the fourth cycle) was submitted to the UN in October 2023. The related hearing was held between 23 and 26 January 20241.

For past reports and related information, please see Archives.

 

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

Since 1997, the HKSAR has submitted a total of four reports under the Covenant. The latest one (i.e. the fourth report) was submitted to the UN in September 2019. The hearing of the UN Human Rights Committee was held on 7, 8 and 12 July 20222.

Fourth Report of the HKSAR

For past reports and related information, please see Archives.

 

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)

Since 1999, the HKSAR has submitted a total of four reports under the Covenant. The latest report of the HKSAR (i.e. the fourth report) is part of China’s third report, which was submitted to the UN in December 2019. The related hearing was held on 15 and 16 February 2023 (during the 73rd session of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)3.

Fourth Report of the HKSAR

For past reports and related information, please see Archives.

 

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

The HKSAR has submitted a total of three reports under the Convention. The latest report (i.e. the third report) is part of China's combined fourteenth to seventeenth reports, which was submitted to the UN in January 2017. The related hearing was held on 10 and 13 August 2018 (during the 96th session of UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination)4.

Third Report of the HKSAR

For past reports and related information, please see Archives.

 

Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)

The HKSAR has submitted a total of three reports under the Convention. The latest report (i.e. the third report) is part of China's sixth report, which was submitted to the UN in June 2013. The related hearing was held on 17 and 18 November 2015 (during the 56th session of the UN Committee against Torture)5.

Third Report of the HKSAR

For past reports and related information, please see Archives.

 

Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

The HKSAR has submitted a total of two reports under the Convention. The HKSAR's first report is part of China's second report and was submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in June 2003. The Committee heard the report during its 40th session between 19 and 20 September 2005. The second report of the HKSAR was submitted to the UN in July 2010 as part of the combined third and fourth reports of China and was published by the UN in May 2012. The related hearing was held during the Committee’s 64th session on 26 and 27 September 2013. For details and progress, please refer to the webpage on CRC under the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB).

 

Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

The HKSAR has submitted a total of four reports under the Convention. The first, second, third and fourth reports of the HKSAR formed part of China’s combined third and fourth reports, combined fifth and sixth reports, combined seventh and eighth reports and ninth report respectively in 1998, 2004, 2012 and 2020 and were submitted to the UN. They were heard by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in January/February 1999, August 2006, October 2014 and May 2023 respectively. For details and progress, please refer to the webpage on CEDAW under the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB).

 

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

The HKSAR has submitted a total of three reports under the Convention. The HKSAR's initial report under the Convention was submitted to the UN in August 2010 as part of China's initial report. It was heard by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in September 2012. HKSAR's combined second and third reports formed part of PRC’s second and third combined reports in 2018 and were submitted to the Committee. For details and progress, please refer to the webpage on CRPD under the LWB.

 

Note 1: The HKSAR's report (First Cycle) was submitted to the UN in November 2008. The related hearing was held on 9 February 2009. The HKSAR's report (Second Cycle) was submitted to the UN in August 2013, and the related hearing was held on 22 to 25 October that year. The HKSAR's report (Third Cycle) was submitted to the UN in August 2018, and the related hearing was held on 6 and 9 November 2018. For the list of people whose submissions were received during the public consultation of the outline of the Fourth Report of the HKSAR, please click here.

Note 2: The first three reports were submitted to the UN in early 1999, January 2005 and May 2011, and were heard by the UN Human Rights Committee in November 1999, between 20 and 21 March 2006 and 12 and 13 March 2013 respectively. For the list of people whose submissions were received during the public consultation of the Fourth Report of the HKSAR, please click here.

Note 3: The HKSAR's first report under the Covenant was submitted to the UN in mid 1999 and was heard by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at the end of April in 2001. The People's Republic of China deposited with the Secretary-General the Covenant’s instrument of ratification on 27 March 2001. The Covenant entered into force in China three months thereafter. Since then, the report of the HKSAR forms part of China’s report for submission to the UN. The HKSAR's second and third reports formed part of China’s initial and second reports. The two reports were submitted to the UN in June 2003 and in June 2010 respectively. The relevant hearings were held between 27 (pm) and 29 April 2005 (during the Committee's 34th session) and on 8 May 2014 (during the Committee's 52nd session). For the list of people whose submissions were received during the public consultation of the Fourth Report of the HKSAR, please click here.

Note 4: The HKSAR's first report under the Convention was submitted to the UN in late 2000 as part of China's combined eighth and ninth reports. It was heard by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 31 July and 1 August 2001. The HKSAR's second report under the Convention was submitted to the UN in June 2008 as part of China's combined tenth to thirteenth reports. The related hearing was held on 7 and 10 August 2009. For the list of people whose submissions were received during the public consultation of the Third Report of the HKSAR, please click here.

Note 5: The HKSAR's first report is part of China's third report, which was submitted to the UN in mid 1999 and was heard by the UN Committee against Torture in May 2000. The HKSAR's second report was submitted to the UN as the second part of China's fourth and fifth reports in February 2006. The related hearing was held in November 2008 during the Committee's 41st session. For the list of people whose submissions were received during the public consultation of the Third Report of the HKSAR, please click here.