NGOs 'shut Out Of Human Rights Discussions'

Civil society groups have denounced the cancellation of a public hearing in Legco on Hong Kong's human rights situation amid concerns about the impact of the national security law.

The government is putting together its response to the United Nations on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in the city.

After the SAR submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Committee last year, the committee asked the administration to clarify a list of issues, ranging from the enactment of the national security law to the use of force by the police during the anti-government protests that began in June last year.

The committee will consider Hong Kong's report at a hearing scheduled for March next year. A government delegation is expected to attend.

A public hearing on the issue had been scheduled for the Legco constitutional affairs panel on Monday, but it was cancelled by its chairman, the DAB's Holden Chow, who cited public health concerns and said only written submissions would be accepted.

Human Rights Monitor director Law Yuk-kai said that deprived NGOs of the opportunity to take part in what he sees as "meaningful participation" in the process.

He told RTHK's Annemarie Evans that said in the past, a tripartite process involved the government, treaty-body experts and NGOs, with the UN coming up with criticisms and recommendations. "It was a meaningful discussion, not just cosmetic," he said.

"In the past, Legco had been doing its job by requiring the Hong Kong government to send high-level representatives, officials to join this kind of panel meeting in which NGOs would be able to fully discuss and explain their position, and then pose questions and recommendations."

About 30 groups have made written submissions but Law said Human Rights Monitor has dropped out of the process.

DAB lawmaker Elizabeth Quat, for her part, said there are a lot of misconceptions about the national security law.

"In the past year there are a lot of people doing international lobbying, using a lot of fake news to harm the reputation of Hong Kong by badmouthing Hong Kong, saying that the national security law will destroy One Country, Two Systems."

She insisted calm has returned to the city since the law took effect in late June. "Some people feel more safe after we have the national security law. They've now gained back some of their freedom, they can go everywhere, they can speak up about their views, about politics."

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang said on Monday officials have still not decided yet how to respond to the UN's questions.