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The Letters Patent have also been amended to ensure that we do not have on our Statute Books any laws that are in breach of this International Covenant. And since the enactment of the Bill of Rights Ordinance we have been systematically looking at all our legislation to ensure that all our laws are fully consistent with these two International Covenants. And we have embarked on a comprehensive review, particularly on any laws that inhibit press freedom. We have already dealt with a number of laws removing draconian laws or laws that in any way inhibit press freedom - and we will be completing this exercise before 1997.
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Of course press freedom also depends ultimately on us having a credible independent Judiciary and I have already spoken about the independence of the Judiciary which is guaranteed under the Basic Law.
Insofar as breaches of the Basic Law are concerned after 1997, of course as the signatory to the Joint Declaration the United Kingdom does have an obligation to ensure that the Joint Declaration is complied with after 1997, and the Prime Minister and other senior UK leaders have made it quite clear that they will continue to keep a very close watch over the implementation of the Joint Declaration. And the Prime Minister also made it clear that if there are breaches he would not hesitate to explore all possible means of ensuring that these breaches are considered and dealt with through whatever means may be appropriate.
Corporate structures. I was not quite clear as to the actual question itself, could you just elaborate?
Mr Barry Bishop (Australia): Certainly. Obviously, governments are interested in the changeover period and the changeover time but just as obviously the corporate world is as well because of the investment they have made in Hong Kong. My question really relates to the ability of the corporate world, perhaps through their governments but perhaps independently, to have a say. if you like, in the process of change.
Chief Secretary: In the process of change? You mean if there are breaches you mean?
Mr Barry Bishop (Australia): In fact the structures after mid-year 1997.
Chief Secretary: Well the structures, of course, after 1997, are those structures that by and large exist now. We do not see -- and indeed the Joint Declaration makes it quite clear that we can substantially keep most of our structures as they are now. Of course there will be changes but I would not have thought any fundamental changes in the basic institutions that exist here in Hong Kong for ensuring a level playing-field, for ensuring that all grievances can be properly addressed by an independent Judiciary, for ensuring rule of law, etc, etc.