GARBEITIAL
- 3
2.
They can on occasion cause embarrassment to
the government through public criticism of governmental
action or legislation.
D. Possible nature and functions of a Hong Kong Human Rights
Commission
1.
If no legislation is adopted specifically
dealing with discrimination or other human rights matters
which might be assigned to the Commission for enforcement,
such a Commission could be limited to the research,
education, study, reporting and commenting functions. Such a commission might involve, for example, a full
time chairman, two part time members, and a staff of
3-5 officers.
2.
A debate over the Bill of Rights and Article
26 of the Covenant may well give rise to suggestions
that Hong Kong should at least go as far as other Commonwealth
jurisdictions and adopt an anti-discrimination law designed
for its own society. If such a law were to be devised,
the Human Rights Commission could be assigned enforcement
responsibility. This would of course have further resource
implications. But it should also be noted that if the
administration of such a law were left to the courts
the costs would almost certainly be greater, including among other things expensive judicial time, formal court room space, and legal aid.