CCPR/C/CHN-HKG/CO/3 18. The Committee notes with appreciation a variety of measures and programmes intended to combat domestic violence, but remains concerned at the high incidence of domestic violence in Hong Kong, China, including domestic violence against women and girls with disabilities (arts. 3, 7 and 26). Hong Kong, China, should increase its efforts to combat domestic violence by, inter alia, ensuring effective implementation of the Domestic and Cohabitation Relationships Violence Ordinance (DCRVO). In this regard, Hong Kong, China, should ensure the provision of assistance and protection to victims, the criminal prosecution of perpetrators of such violence, and the sensitization of society as a whole to this matter. 19. The Committee notes with concern that, unlike the other Discrimination Ordinances, the Race Discrimination Ordinance (RDO) does not specifically apply to the Government in the exercise of its public functions such as the operations of the Hong Kong Police Forces and Correctional Services Department (art. 26). The Committee recommends that Hong Kong, China, rectify a key gap in the current Race Discrimination Ordinance, in close consultation with the Equal Opportunities Commission, in order to ensure full compliance with article 26 of the Covenant. Hong Kong, China, should also consider introducing comprehensive anti-discrimination laws, in accordance with the Covenant. Such legislation should impose obligations on the authorities to promote equality and to eradicate discrimination. 20. The Committee is concerned about the persistence of the phenomenon of trafficking in persons in Hong Kong, China, and reports that Hong Kong, China, is a source, destination, and transit point for men, women, and teenage girls from Hong Kong, the mainland of China, and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, subjected to human trafficking and forced labour. The Committee is concerned about the reluctance of Hong Kong, China, to take steps which could lead to the extension of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Protocol) to Hong Kong, China, (art. 8). Hong Kong, China, should intensify its efforts to identify victims of trafficking and ensure the systematic collection of data on trafficking flows to and in transit through the region, review its sentencing policy for perpetrators of trafficking-related crimes, support private shelters offering protection to victims, strengthen victim assistance by ensuring interpretation, medical care, counselling, legal support for claiming unpaid wages and compensation, long-term support for rehabilitation and stability of legal status to all victims of trafficking. The Committee recommends the inclusion of certain practices regarding foreign domestic workers in the definition of the crime of human trafficking. Hong Kong, China, should consider taking steps which could lead to the extension of the Palermo Protocol to Hong Kong, China, in order to strengthen its commitment to fight trafficking in persons in the region. 21. The Committee is concerned about the discriminatory and exploitation suffered by a large number of migrant domestic workers and the lack of adequate protection and redress provided for them (arts. 2 and 26). Hong Kong, China, should adopt measures to ensure that all workers enjoy their basic rights, independently of their migrant status, and establish affordable and effective mechanisms to ensure that abusive employers are held accountable. It is also recommended to consider repealing the “two-weeks rule” (whereby domestic migrant workers have to leave Hong Kong within two weeks upon termination of contract) as well as the live-in requirement. 5