E/C.12/1/Add.107
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98.
The Committee urges HKSAR to strengthen its efforts to combat poverty and social
exclusion, in particular with regard to disadvantaged and marginalized groups and older persons.
The Committee also recommends the State party to adopt an official poverty line, which would
enable the State party to define the extent of poverty and to monitor and evaluate progress in
alleviating poverty. The Committee requests that the State party provide, in its next periodic
report, disaggregated and comparative annually collected data on the number of people living in
poverty, on the progress made in reducing the incidence of poverty, and on the impact, if any,
that the newly-established Commission on Poverty has had on the issue of poverty in HKSAR.
99.
The Committee urges the State party to continue its efforts to improve its health services,
inter alia, through the allocation of adequate and increased resources. The Committee
recommends HKSAR to consider revising the current list of subsidized drugs to meet the needs
of the chronically and mentally ill. The Committee encourages the State party to submit in its
next periodic report annually collected comparative data, disaggregated by sex, age and
urban/rural residence, paying particular attention to disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
100. The Committee recommends HKSAR to develop a comprehensive sexual and
reproductive health programme, including a public awareness-raising campaign about safe
contraceptive methods. The Committee also calls upon HKSAR to introduce education on
sexual and reproductive health in the school curriculum.
101. The Committee urges HKSAR to amend its legislation to provide for the right to
education of all school-age children in its jurisdiction, including children of migrants without the
legal right to remain in HKSAR.
102. The Committee encourages HKSAR to ensure that human rights education is provided in
schools at all levels and to raise awareness of human rights, in particular economic, social and
cultural rights, among State officials and the judiciary.
III. MACAO SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (MSAR)
B. Positive aspects
103. The Committee welcomes the assurance that the Covenant may be directly invoked
before domestic courts in MSAR, and that there have been specific decisions of domestic courts
in which reference has been made to the Covenant and its provisions.
104. The Committee welcomes the assurance provided by MSAR that the Office of the
Ombudsman has the mandate to receive complaints on violations of economic, social and
cultural rights.
105. The Committee commends MSAR for the establishment of a special unit within the
Social Welfare Institute offering assistance to victims of domestic violence.
106. The Committee welcomes the planned enactment of legislation to protect the rights of
children, specifically aimed at protecting their rights and interests.