409.
From The Minister of State
Bowen Wells Esq MP House of Commons LONDON
SW1A OAA
Ps/lord Caithness
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
6 August 1990
Jean Bowen
Thank you for your letter of 9 July to Francis Maude about civil liberties in Hong Kong. As you will know, Malcolm Caithness has now taken on his responsibilities for Hong Kong at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, but I am replying in his absence.
The Hong Kong Government are currently reviewing all existing legislation to ensure that it is compatible with the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as applied to Hong Kong. These form the basis of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights which was introduced into the Legislative Council on 25 July. The laws which have a bearing on the freedom of expression and the freedom of peaceful assembly will naturally be subject to this process.
Youseren
Lynda
LYNDA CHALKER
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