A Commission on Children for Hong Kong

Prof. Anne Scully-Hill

During her first Policy Address, Carrie Lam confirmed her election promise: that Hong Kong would shortly have a Commission dedicated to Children and the issues they face.

The full-length written version of her Policy Address says:
The Government plans to set up a Commission on Children in the middle of next year to amalgamate the efforts made by relevant bureaux/ departments and child concern groups, and focus on addressing children’s issues as they grow. To this end, a preparatory committee chaired by the Chief Executive was established last month, with the Chief Secretary for Administration as the Vice‐chairman. Members of the preparatory committee include the Policy Secretaries of relevant bureaux; experts in children affairs, such as members of the healthcare, education, social welfare and legal sectors; as well as academics and representatives of ethnic minorities and parents...

The preparatory committee held its first meeting early this month to discuss the roles and functions of the Commission on Children as well as its work priorities as suggested by the stakeholders. It will conduct a series of public engagement activities to canvass views from the community extensively including those of children, so as to ensure that the functions and the work of the new Commission on Children will have the support of the community.

This is great news for Hong Kong and especially for the 1.1million children of Hong Kong. It is the result of tireless campaigning by those who work with and for children in the region (to see more information on the campaign for a Children's Commission for Hong Kong). But this is not the end, it is only the beginning. The next task is to ensure that the Children’s Commission is given the powers and resources it will need to be an effective force for positive change in the lives of children and for the recognition of children’s rights as guaranteed under the United Convention of the Rights of the Child (to see CIF publications including work on Children's Commissions).

---