LIKD
Ma Smile Bunter
Acrin pl
GRATIFY FOR DRAFT REPLY
FROM MR GOODIAD
BY 5/3 PLS.
25 February 1993
Nick All 26/
c. Ps/MR 4 core
Alistair Goodlad
Minister of State
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH
1/3 مل
2464
RECEIVED DI
MA. 1993
DESK CICER INDEX
PA
Dear Mr Groslaw,
الهالة
90 Borough High St. London SE1 1LL United Kingdom Telephone: 071-403 4822 Facsimile: 071-403 1943
Director: Frances D'Souza
RECIS Action T
XIX
ARTICLE 19
INTERNATIONAL CENTRE AGAINST CENSORSHIP
Thank you very much for your letter of 3 February.
However, I do admit to being bemused by some of the points you make. Our purpose in writing
writing to you originally was to point out some of our areas of concern and to ask for further information from the British government about any plans to resolve these
concerns.
Yet, in your letter you make substantially the same points as those in our report which, I fear, does not take us any further. Thus, for example, we agree that in several respects the Basic Law does not reflect the spirit of the Joint Declaration. We remain concerned about Article 158 of the Basic Law and that the power of final interpretation in cases involving foreign affairs, defence or the relationship between the central authorities and the region lies with the NPC Standing Committee.
These are crucial areas for the right to freedom of expression and we believe that their interpretation should not lie with a political body under the control of the Chinese Communist Party but that they should revert to the Hong Kong judiciary as envisaged by the Joint Declaration.
We remain concerned about the Basic Law provision requiring legislation prohibiting subversion because of the use of that concept in China to detain pro- democracy activists and because China will ultimately have the power to veto Hong Kong legislation which it views as incompatible with the Basic Law.
Nor, sadly, are we swayed by the Hong Kong government's belief that existing mechanisms for dealing with human rights complaints are, or will be, adequate. Indeed, the concerns we clearly share about weak areas in the Basic Law and its implementation do not allay our fears that freedom of expression will be severely threatened,
International Board
William Shawcross, Chairman
Aryeh Neier, Vice-Chairman Geoffrey Bindman, Honorary Treasurer
Ellen Dahrendorf Ben Hooberman Gitobu Imanyara Emily Lau
Lance Lindblom Helena Luczywo
Emilio Mignone
Soli Sorabjee
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information
and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
ARTICLE 19 Research and Information Centre
on Censorship (A company limited by guarantee) Company Number: 2097222
Registered Charity Number 327421