Hong Kong's record on disabled rights attacked at UN
Government lags woefully behind nations like New Zealand and UK in protecting vulnerable people from discrimination, summit to hear
At its meeting on September 17-18, the UN's Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will consider criticisms of Hong Kong's record from a group of local non-governmental organisations.
Their submission accuses the government of failing to address limited education and employment opportunities along with accessibility issues and unsatisfactory legal protection for the city's disabled community.
The coalition of groups includes the Grand Alliance of Parents for the Rights of Persons with Special Educational Needs and Human Rights Monitor.
While Beijing has signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Hong Kong's government still adheres to its own Disability Discrimination Ordinance, a much narrower entity that does not oblige it to promote equal opportunities.
"Countries such as New Zealand and the UK made legislative amendments after they endorsed the UN Convention," said retired social worker Emily Fung Wai-ying, who represents one of the NGOs that made the submission.
"But Hong Kong has not. Schools should be asked to provide appropriate support to students with special needs."
