IRO/33/92
COMPRENS
;
Handed over by Paul to Liu on 3.4.92
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Chilā
Speaking Note
Annex A
WO wish
to raise the subject of the UN Convention the Rights of the Child. The UK signed the Convention
1998, ratified the Convention on 15 December 1991
on
in
April
and now wishes
territories.
to extend ratification to its dependent
3.
The
international
British side consider that it would be
desirable and appropriate that Hong Kong be included in the
UK ratification.
This would demonstrate to the
community Hong Kong's commitment to protecting and promoting the rights of the child. We note
that the Government of the People's Republic of China has recently ratified the Convention.
3.
Convention.
Hong Kong's legislation and practice concerning
the protection of children essentially comply with the Nevertheless, there aze inevitably some differences between Hong Kong's legislation and this wide
ranging concensus
The British side has
identified a number of areas where the UK envisages the need to make declarations or reservations on behalf of Hong Kong upon ratification.
4.
together
instrument.
Firstly, articles 1
with paragraph 9
interpreted as broadening the
include children before birth.
and 6 of the Convention read
Of the preamble may
ba
definition of the child to
Like the UK, Hong Kong
needs a reservation to cover legal termination of pregnancy and to avoid inconsistency with domestic legislation.
+ 5.
terms.
Secondly, the provisions in the Convention regarding immigration and nationality are drafted in very As in respect of the UK, a reservation on of Hong Kong is required to reflect the way in which immigration and nationality laws operate in Hong Kong,
broad
behalf
CONFIDENTIAL