200
GOVT HOUSE HE
Introduction
*30
3-19 6:02
CONFIDENTIAL
Bill of Rights:
Background Briefing Notes
1. HKC24 / /|
30 MAR 1990
VOFFICER
REGISTRY
يم
PAGE OZ
80
Lee Mr Whitehead
(New
Ms Barrett
Pa NH 19/3
PA
Action Taken
1.
Strong wish in HK
community for human rights to be
given special recognition in law. HK
Government has
prepared draft Bill of Rights to meet this wish.
2.
A major concern is to enact a Bill of Rights which is
capable of continuing in effect beyond the transfer of
sovereignty in 1997. Passing a Bill of Rights now
which would cease to have force after 1997 would have
little point.
3.
In order to remain in effect, the Bill of Rights must
be consistent with the JD and the Basic Law. JD and
draft BL (A39) provide that the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) 'as applied to
Hong Kong shall remain in force and shall be
implemented through the laws of the HKSAR'. So the
ensure compatibility of Bill of Rights
with BL is to make the substance fully consistent with
rue ICCPR as applied to HK.
safest way
to
CONFIDENTIAL