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Rights enjoyed by female indigenous villagers
Following is a question by the Hon Christine Loh and a reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
(b)
what customary rights are being enjoyed by the female indigenous villagers of the New Territories; and what are the changes in these customary rights after the passage of the New Territories Land (Exemption) Bill and the Sex Discrimination Bill; and
what measures are being adopted by the Government to promote the customary rights and those new rights under the New Territories Land (Exemption) Ordinance and the Sex Discrimination Ordinance among the female indigenous villagers?
Reply:
Mr President,
By virtue of their indigenous status, female indigenous villagers are entitled to exemption of rates in respect of the village houses in which they live and to concession of Crown rents in respect of rural land and property which they hold. They are also permitted to be buried in the New Territories within approved areas outside gazetted cemeteries.
These are not changed in any way by the enactment of the New Territories Land (Exemption) Ordinance and the Sex Discrimination Ordinance.
Government maintains continual efforts in promoting female indigenous villagers' awareness and understanding of their rights. Following enactment of the New Territories Land (Exemption) Ordinance, a publicity leaflet explaining the purpose and the key features of the Ordinance was distributed to all villagers. A special television civic education programme which focused particularly on the rights of female indigenous villagers under this Ordinance was produced last November. In addition, Liaison Officers in the New Territories District Offices also helped explain the provisions of the new legislation to villagers. Similar publicity will be made to promote understanding of the provisions of the new Sex Discrimination Ordinance.
End/Wednesday, July 19, 1995
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