E/C.12/1/Add.107 page 10 67. The Committee calls upon the State party to provide, in its next periodic report, detailed information, including disaggregated comparative statistics, to evaluate progress made and obstacles encountered in the implementation of all the provisions of the Covenant in the ethnic minority regions, including in XUAR and TAR. 68. The Committee urges the State party to remove restrictions on freedom of information and expression in the State party, to enable all persons under its jurisdiction to take part in cultural life, enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications, and benefit from the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he or she is the author. 69. The Committee strongly recommends that the State party’s obligations under the Covenant be taken into account in all aspects of its negotiations with the international financial institutions and other regional trade agreements in order to ensure that economic, social and cultural rights, particularly of the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups, are not undermined. 70. The Committee recommends that the State party continue to ensure that its international human rights obligations and the present recommendations are taken fully into account when entering into technical cooperation and other arrangements. II. HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION B. Positive aspects 71. The Committee welcomes the information that the age of criminal responsibility has been raised. 72. The Committee notes with appreciation the establishment of a Commission on Poverty to devise in this connection future strategies to combat poverty. 73. The Committee welcomes the establishment of the Sexual Minorities Forum, a formal communication channel between HKSAR and persons with different sexual orientation, and the planned establishment of the Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Unit within the Home Affairs Bureau. 74. The Committee welcomes the extensive efforts made by HKSAR, including sensitization campaigns, to combat prejudices and discrimination against persons with physical and mental disabilities. 75. The Committee welcomes the enactment in 2002 of the Marital Rape Ordinance. 76. The Committee welcomes the enactment in 2003 of the Law on Prevention of Child Pornography.

Select target paragraph3