Macao:
Strengthening Human Rights Safeguards
Memorandum from Amnesty International to the Basic Law Drafting Committee
1.
Introduction
This memorandum highlights Amnesty International's concerns about the Draft Basic Law proposed to be implemented in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Macao when the People's Republic of China (PRC) resumes sovereignty over that territory on 20 December 1999.
The analysis examines selected provisions of the Draft Basic Law which appear in their present form to be incompatible with international standards for human rights. It also makes recommendations for amendments to these provisions with the goal of ensuring that the Basic Law enacted in the Macao SAR will afford maximum protection for human rights.
Upon publication of the The Draft Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (for Solicitation of Opinions), 13th July 1991, the Macao Basic Law Drafting Committee invited opinions from the general public on the Draft Basic Law for the Macao SAR. The Draft Basic Law provides the structure for the governmental, legal, economic, and social system of the future Macao SAR.
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organization which seeks the release of prisoners of conscience (people held anywhere for the non-violent exercise of their counscientiously-held beliefs or on account of their ethnic origin, sex, colour or language), advocates fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners and prisoners threatened with the death penalty; opposes torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment of prisoners, including the death penalty, "disappearances" and extrajudicial executions. As part of its work, Amnesty International promotes the adoption of constitutions and other legal instruments which protect
Amnesty International November 1991
Al Index: ASA 27/01/91