Only in
in this way will an abiding
demonstrated fairness.
determination to support the legal system be laid down in the
hearts of the people of Hong Kong.
As worrying as the localisation of the judiciary, and
connected with it, is the threat of the departure of trained
lawyers from Hong Kong. The common law system cannot work
successfully without a vigilant, independent Bar. Yet only
33% of lawyers are
are committed to staying in Hong Kong after
1997. This represents a fall of 5% since the events of June
1989. It is this
this erosion of the personnel of talent
talent and
integrity, equipped to keep the system of law and its values
intact after 1997, that has caused lawyers to voice concern
that the legal system is "crumbling around
"crumbling around them".12.
It is a process which must be arrested as quickly as
possible.
Ninthly, there is the failure, already referred to,
both of the departing Imperial power, and of the its
successor, to accord the people of Hong Kong the most
fundamental of human rights that of self-determination.
its third periodic report to the Human Rights Committee
Geneva, the United Kingdom Government stated that:
-
"Successive British Governments have since 1945 consistently promoted self-determination and independence in the dependant territories of the United Kingdom in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants and the provisions of the United Nations Charter. The United Kingdom's policy towards dependant territories for which the United Kingdom is still responsible continues to be founded on respect for the inalienable rights of peoples to determine their own future. The vast majority of the dependant territories for which the United Kingdom was previously responsible have chosen, and now enjoy, independence."
In
in
This asserted right of self-determination was upheld by the
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