HK professor sets out on rights mission to Cambodia

A Hong Kong professor this week began his first mission to Cambodia as a special representative of the United Nations secretary-general on the human rights situation in the country.

The University of Hong Kong's Sir Y.K. Pao Professor of Public Law, Yash Ghai, is in Cambodia on a week-long trip, during which he will meet King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior government representatives to discuss the country's constitution and human rights situation.

The professor will also meet representatives of non-governmental organisations, trade unions and the diplomatic community.

The constitutional law expert, who earlier this year visited Baghdad to advise on Iraq's constitutional process, would give a lecture on constitutions and democratisation at the Royal University of Law and Economics on Thursday, said the UN's Cambodia Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

As special representative to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Professor Ghai will present a report on his recommendations for Cambodia's constitution, its international human rights treaties and their implementation to the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in April.

The professor was appointed following the resignation of Peter Leuprecht, who held the post between 2001 and this year.