WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1984
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FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT MEANS MORE THAN RIGHT TO TRAVEL
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APART FROM THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL FREELY, FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT HAS A SIGNIFICANT CONNOTATION OF FREEDOM OF RESIDENCE WITHIN A POLITICAL SOVEREIGN STATE, THE HON CHARLES YEUNG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
OTHERWISE, SUCH RIGHTS WOULD BE ILLUSORY, HE SAID, IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON +FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT+.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE CONCEPT OF FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IN A CIVILISED SOCIETY HAD A LONG HISTORY. IN THE 13TH CENTUARY, IT WAS ENSHRINED IN THE FAMOUS ENGLISH MAGNA CARTA.
THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE UNITED NATIONS, PROMULGATES IN ITS ARTICLE 13 THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND RESIDENCE WITHIN THE BORDERS OF EACH STATE AND HAS ALSO THE RIGHT TO LEAVE ANY COUNTRY, INCLUDING HIS OWN, AND TO RETURN TO HIS COUNTRY, HE POINTED OUT.
+THIS GENERAL DECLARATION HAS SINCE BEEN STRENGTHENED BY MORE DEFINITIVE AND DETAILED PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, IMPOSING AN ABSOLUTE AND IMMEDIATE OBLIGATION ON EACH OF THE STATE PARTIES TO RESPECT AND TO ENSURE SUCH RIGHTS TO ALL INDIVIDUALS WITHIN ITS TERRITORIES AND SUBJECT TO ITS JURISDICTION, HE ADDED.
AMER ICAN AND EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, AS THE PROTAGONISTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS HAD FURTHER BONDED TOGETHER FOR THE FURTHERANCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF THESE RIGHTS BY SUCH CONVENTIONS AS THE AMERICAN CONVENTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS, HE SAID.
GOVERNMENT URGED TO SUPPORT CASE OF BDTC'S
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THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG URGED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THE CASE OF THE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS AND TO RECOMMEND TO HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT THAT THEIR RIGHTS AND THE RIGHTS OF ALL HONG KONG PEOPLE TO FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT BE CLEARLY OUTLINED IN THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT.
SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON +FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT+ HE SAID, NO DOUBT ALL HONG KONG PEOPLE, AND IN PARTICULAR BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS, HAVE GOOD CAUSE TO PONDER THE CHANGING CONCEPT OF THE IR BRITISH NATIONALITY, AND THE UNCERTAIN CONTINUITY OF THEIR PRESENT STATUS AFTER 1997.+
/HE SAID
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