E/C.12/1/Add.107 page 12 81. The Committee is concerned that the wage disparity between men and women continues to be a problem despite the position of HKSAR that the Sex Discrimination Ordinance provides sufficient protection for women in the field of employment, in accordance with the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. 82. The Committee is concerned that the social security system in HKSAR does not include unemployment benefits. 83. The Committee expresses its concern about the particularly precarious situation of foreign domestic workers, a majority of whom are from South-East Asia, who are underpaid and are not entitled to social security. 84. The Committee is seriously concerned that under the existing social security system, and in particular under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), the levels of benefit are not sufficient to guarantee a decent standard of living and that many low-income persons, in particular older persons, are not covered by the scheme. The Committee is further concerned that new migrants are unable to apply for CSSA due to the seven-year residence requirement. 85. The Committee expresses concern about reports of the high incidence of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, into HKSAR, mainly for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The Committee regrets that it did not receive sufficient information regarding this problem and the measures taken in this respect by HKSAR. 86. The Committee notes with regret that the information provided on the extent of poverty and social exclusion in HKSAR was insufficient. The Committee is also concerned about reports of increasing poverty among older persons, the more so as HKSAR is facing the problem of a rapidly ageing society. 87. The Committee, while noting the generally high level of enjoyment to health in HKSAR, remains concerned that spending on public hospitals has been on the decline, resulting in longer waiting lists for patients. The Committee is also concerned that under the current fee waiver system, low-income patients still do not receive the most appropriate medical care. The Committee further notes with regret that many of the expensive drugs required by chronically ill and mentally ill patients are not subsidized, and are thus in practice denied to these patients. 88. The Committee remains concerned about the low level of awareness of the general public in HKSAR of sexual and reproductive health issues. The Committee also regrets that no comprehensive sexual and reproductive health programme exists in HKSAR and that education on sexual and reproductive health is not part of the school curriculum. 89. The Committee is concerned that the measures taken to facilitate enrolment in local schools of children of migrants from the Mainland and other foreign migrant workers who do not have the legal right to remain in HKSAR are insufficient.