Mr. Albert Chan, a senior lecturer of law at the University of Hong Kong also emphasize the need to educate the public about the Hong Kong Bills of Right. He insists that "rights and liberties guaranteed in the 'Proposed' Bill of Rights - which is, after just a piece of paper - are illusory unless the moral and legal values implicit in the bill have been inculcated in the consciousness and culture of the community...."4
According to The Charter of United Nation, article 56 Government are obliged to use every means within their power solemnly to publicizes the text of the Declaration and to cause it be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories. In line with this principle, the Hong Kong government has the obligation to provide for its citizens human rights education at all levels.
Unfortunately, Human Rights education is a very much neglected area in our education system. When the Bill of Rights was adopted, the government received a donation of HK. $ 1 million from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club for organizing human rights education projects. However, except for producing some pamphlets and which were not even widely distributed and a few activities,very little have been done. Last year, the government had spent $340,000 of the donation to finance some NGO human rights projects through the Civic Education Committee That means, for Human Right Education, the government has spent only less than one cent per head for the total population of 6 millions.
We strongly urge the government to take a more active role in this aspect. Human rights education should be integrated into the education policies for all levels, including adult education and community education.
8. Conclusion and Recommendations
To improve the existing human right situations and to protect the human rights situation in Hong Kong after 1997. We have the following suggestions
1. The existing reporting systems and the procedure for preparing the report, particularly procedures pertaining to "Dependent Territories" such as Hong Kong at present and as the Special Administrative Region of China after 1997, must be reviewed. The existing system does not provide opportunities for citizens of the dependent territories or the Special Administrative Region to participate in the preparation process. The quality and honesty reflected in reporting are not guaranteed.
2. The possibility of accession to the International covenants by Hong Kong itself
should be investigated in greater details and the continued application of the monitoring system should be settled immediately by all parties concerned. The British Government should present some concrete solutions in her report to the
Asian Human Rigts Commission: Human Rights Issues prior to 1997, p.10
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