Segregation of Hong Kong's ethnic-minority students in specific schools is "de facto discrimination" and should stop, a United Nations committee says.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child called on the government to "urgently abolish" the so-called designated schools and use the resources to promote minority children's access to mainstream schools.
It is a very strong tone for the report to confirm the existence of 'de facto discrimination. Various bureaus are shirking the responsibility of racial segregation in schools
Releasing its conclusions after last month's hearing on Hong Kong's implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the committee also expressed regret at what it terms the city's lack of a comprehensive policy and strategy on children.
Campaigner Fermi Wong Wai-fun urged the Equal Opportunities Commission to launch an investigation.
"It is a very strong tone for the report to confirm the existence of 'de facto discrimination'," Wong, of minority-rights group Unison, said.
"Various bureaus are shirking the responsibility of racial segregation in schools."
Of 852 government schools, 31 enrol mostly ethnic minorities and teach limited Chinese.