►
2 -
I hope that we can co-operate over as comprehensive a range of issues as possible. But we'll never compromise Hong Kong's long-term interests. There's a substantial difference between seeking co-operation on the one hand and, on the other, abandoning what's right in return for what you hope may be a quiet life.
Third, we've got a substantial body of work to complete. Work in the first place to protect human rights in Hong Kong. Since 1992 we've extended the convention on the rights of the child to Hong Kong, and we're seeking to bring Hong Kong within the ambit of the convention which bans discrimination against women. We've legislated against that sort of discrimination and against discrimination against the disabled. We've allocated more money to promote human rights education here and we've opened up government. We're implementing an administrative code on access to information. We've made the Administration more accountable to the legislature, extended the ombudsman's power to follow up complaints against the government, and brought in pledges of improved performance right across the public services.
The Judiciary are introducing specialist lists for Bill of Rights cases, and we're providing greater access to legal aid, setting up an independent council to organise the administration of legal aid services. We've substantially completed a review of out- of-date potentially repressive laws, including those which could be used to impinge on press freedom. But I have to say, I don't think that the main threat to press freedom today or in the future comes from the law; the insidious danger is self-censorship.
Human rights and freedom as well as good government - in Hong Kong are also well served by ensuring that the community gets that development of democratic institutions which it has been promised. We've had very successful elections to the District Boards and Municipal Councils with record voter registration and turn-out. I'm sure that the LegCo elections in September will also go well. There's record voter registration for them, and this year 16 times as many people as last time will be entitled to vote in the functional constituencies. I hope and believe that this broad- based and fairly elected Legislative Council will do a good job for Hong Kong and I pledge that we will work closely with it.
As you'll know, (after all it's the subject of a rather surprising degree of controversy), we've reached a good agreement with China on Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal. It provides for a decent court, based on the existing principles and practices of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. With such a Court, ready to start work on 1 July 1997, on a basis agreed with China, continuity in Hong Kong's system of justice will be assured. This is an important boost for the future confidence of Hong Kong.