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"The Preliminary Working Committee's proposals in respect of BORO have, therefore, aroused strong public concern.
"We have, and will continue to explain to the Chinese Government the misconceived nature of these proposals and the importance of preserving the Bill of Rights Ordinance as the cornerstone of human rights protection in Hong Kong."
Mr Suen also paid tribute to the first fully elected Legislature which he noted now acted with a mandate from the largest and most broadly based electorate in the territory's history.
On the Government's commitment to greater openness and accountability, Mr Suen said the Code on Access to Information introduced earlier this year was a major step forward.
In the belief that more open and accountable government is a better government, the Administration has formulated the Code which was intended to make available to the public as much information as possible to enhance understanding of the formulation and implementation of public policies.
"Some two-thirds of the Government is now covered by the Code and we intend to extend it to the remainder before the end of 1996."
As to the protection of personal privacy, Mr Suen said the Government would establish the Privacy Commission to promote and enforce compliance with the newly enacted Data Protection (Privacy) Ordinance.
On the issue of equal opportunities, Mr Suen said the territory had not been left on the sidelines amid an increasing level of interest on the topic world-wide.
"But it is not in our nature to rush headlong into changes simply because they are fashionable or politically expedient.
"We need first to be sure that injustices exist, that government action, whether administrative, educational, or legal, is the appropriate remedy and, if so, where the balance should be struck in meeting different aspirations of the community."
He said the Administration had proposed and LegCo had enacted in 1995 the Sex Discrimination Ordinance and the Disability Discrimination Ordinance after studies and public consultations revealed a clear and unambiguous need and demand for legislation against these practices.