Sir Eric Norris
Parliamentary
fice
CONFIDENTIAL
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PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION FROM MR PERCY GRIEVE QC
Mr Beard
1. Mr Grieve has asked a question about the extension of the
European Convention on Human Rights to Hong Kong. He has two
underlying reasons. First he is interested in the Convention
itself; and second he has been contacted by a Mr Beard,
formerly a constituent of Mr Kershaw and now of Mr Loughlin,
who has a complaint against the Hong Kong Government.
has failed to get satisfaction through British channels
(including a petition to the Prime Minister), but still hopes
to be able to petition the European Commission of Human Rights.
2. The Convention has been extended by the UK to a number of
dependent territories but not to Hong Kong. The reason for
this omission was that in 1965 when the matter was first
considered, the Governor of Hong Kong was advised that the
Colony's Deportation and Detention Regulations were in breach
of Article 6 of the Convention. The Governor considered that
these regulations were necessary in existing circumstances in
Hong Kong, and that there was no alternative to their retention,
for so long as the Chinese People's Government refused to accept
deportees.
3. We have recently consulted the Hong Kong Government again
on this question, following correspondence between Mr Grieve
and Mr Royle about Mr Beard's complaints. The Colonial Secretary
Othe
CONFIDENTIAL
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