(19)
Since CEDAW,
if
7
applied,
would
confer new
international rights and obligations on Hong Kong which would continue to apply after the change of sovereignty in 1997, the Chinese Government would have to be consulted.
Pros and Cons of extending CEDAW_to_Hong_Kong
(20)
The extension of CEDAW to Hong Kong would demonstrate to, the international community our commitment to the principle of equality between women and men. To the
extent that it would require the enactment of major
anti-discrimination legislation, it would also reap the
benefits of such legislation which are said to be:
(a) while it could not eliminate sex discrimination
anti-sex discrimination legislation
completely,
would help to change community attitudes for the
better by setting standards of acceptable
behavior; and
(b)
it would offer avenues for redress (through mediation and the right to seek compensation) to
those who have suffered discrimination.
(21)
There
are
no strong arguments against the extension of CEDAW per se, apart from the wide ranging obligations that it would give rise to, including the need to enact anti-discrimination legislation, and the problems likely to be encountered in complying with those obligations. As far as the problems of the introduction of anti-discrimination legislation are concerned, they are:-
(a)
anti-discrimination legislation would involve
Government intervention in
the conduct of
relationships
range
of
between private citizens in a wide
areas, including the operation of the
labour market;