This file photo dated Jun 27, 2017 shows the scenery on the both sides of the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, south China. On March 6, 2023, the HKSAR government expressed its strong objections to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for having made inaccurate, biased and misleading statements about Hong Kong, and for having disregarded the explanations of the city’s delegation. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Monday expressed its strong objections to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for having made inaccurate, biased and misleading statements about Hong Kong, and for having disregarded the explanations of the city’s delegation.

In a statement on late Monday, the SAR government said, “The Committee selectively believed, and made sweeping statements based on certain false information and distorted narratives regardless of the truth, and made one-sided and flawed comments on the human rights situation in Hong Kong in the so-called concluding observations, and even politicized its work in considering the report.”

On Feb 15 and 16, Hong Kong sent a 10-member delegation, led by Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Gracie Foo, to attend a two-day meeting of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. During the meeting, the delegation presented a truthful report about Hong Kong’s situation to the Committee

A government spokesperson said the Committee's recommendations to review the National Security Law for Hong Kong in various aspects are not only totally unfounded, but also utterly perplexing.

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"We also strongly object to the Committee's groundless smearing against the law enforcement actions taken by the HKSAR government during the 2019 serious violence. All law enforcement actions taken by Hong Kong law enforcement agencies are based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation.

"Moreover, the Committee completely took no notice of the fact as clearly pointed out by the delegation during the meeting that the implementation of the National Security Law had reversed the previous chaotic situation and serious violence, and restored stability and increased public confidence in Hong Kong, thereby allowing the city to resume its normal operation and return to the path of development."

On Feb 15 and 16, Hong Kong sent a 10-member delegation, led by Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Gracie Foo, to attend a two-day meeting of the Committee in Geneva, Switzerland. During the meeting, the delegation presented a truthful report about Hong Kong’s situation to the Committee. 

Despite submissions by the Hong Kong delegation, the Committee showed disregard for the fundamental rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents, which are already guaranteed at the constitutional level under the Basic Law, including the right to criticize government policies and decisions made by officials, and to publish satirical content in various media, as mentioned in the concluding observations, the spokesperson added.

"The Committee has turned a blind eye to the fact that the fundamental rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents have already been guaranteed at the constitutional level by the Basic Law … The National Security Law does not affect the legitimate exercise of the freedom of expression by Hong Kong residents, including criticizing government policies or policies and decisions made by officials, as well as publishing satirical content through different types of media as mentioned in the concluding observations," the spokesperson said.

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The spokesperson also responded to the Committee's concerns in other human rights areas, such as the right to form and join trade unions, academic freedom, discrimination against LGBTI, gender equality and so on.

As regards women's employment, the spokesperson said women and men in general enjoy the same rights to participate in the labor force and in choice of jobs, and these rights are protected and ensured by the Sex Discrimination Ordinance in Hong Kong.

The number of female directorate officers in the civil service has increased from 526 in 2018 to 565 in 2021, making up nearly 41 percent of top positions. As of December 31, 2022, 12 out of the 18 Permanent Secretaries were females, according to the spokesperson.