THE Government's lack of consultation in drafting a human rights report to be submitted to the United Nations was against the UN's rules, according to a human rights activist.
The Secretary for Home Affairs, Michael Suen Ming-yeung, confirmed on Thursday that a report on the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment had already been sent to the United Kingdom, from where it would be delivered to the UN.
It is the first report the Government has submitted to the UN since the convention's enactment in 1984, but has not gone through any public consultation.
Hong Kong Human Rights Commission chairman Ho Hei-wah said the Government had no right to draft the report in such secrecy, as it went against UN regulations.
The UN human rights report handbook issued in 1992 stipulates that the draft should be circulated among government officials, non-government organisations, and representative bodies to consult their views, he said.
Mr Ho said the convention was important to Hong Kong because it restricted the use of torture by the Government's disciplinary forces, a phenomenon which he said was prevalent in the territory.
