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GENERAL SYNOD BOARD FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INTERNATIONAL
AND GENERAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (IDAC)
HONG KONG
A Bill of Rights
- the Bill of Rights (BOR) commenced operation on 8 June
1991 it's genesis was the reaction in Hong Kong to the
events in Tiananmen Square in June 1989.
- it is too soon to assess with any confidence the impact of
the BOR. There have, as yet, only been one criminal and one
civil decision by the Court of Appeal interpreting the BOR.
amendments to current legislation to bring them into line
with the BOR are being considered by the Hong Kong
Government (HKG).
- it was never conceived that the BOR should contain
provisions which would alter the system of government in
Hong Kong. Therefore it would have been inappropriate to
seek to implement international covenants to enact the right
to self determination and the right to elect political
representatives in the BOR. As matters stand, the people of
Hong Kong do elect representatives to the Legislative Council and enjoy a considerable degree of autonomy. But the system of government is and will remain executive led.
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