A Hong Kong delegation will attend the United Nations hearing of the second report on the city's developments in civil and political rights in March next year.

The second report under the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights was submitted to the UN on January 14. It described the developments of civil and political rights in Hong Kong since the initial report's hearing in November 1998.

It also responds to the concerns and recommendations of the Human Rights Committee - the UN Treaty Monitoring Body for the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights - after the hearing of the initial report.

The Government has sought the views of legislators, non-governmental organisations and other interested parties on the implementation of the treaty in Hong Kong, before preparing the report.

The report was submitted to the UN by China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva. The full text, in Chinese and English, is now available on the Home Affairs Bureau's website. Copies are available at the Home Affairs Department Public Enquiry Service Centres.