XN000022-1990-04-18 — Page 7

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WDUNESUAI, APRIL 10, 1970

INDUSTRIAL INVESTORS FROM

THE AND GERMANY IS LIKELY TO

"SO THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL UNITED STATES, JAPAN, THE UNITED KINGDOM REMAIN DOMINANT IN HONG KONG.

JAPAN MAY PARTNER

"IN PARTICULAR, AT ITS CURRENT RATE OF INVESTMENT, WELL BE OUR LARGEST OVERSEAS INVESTOR AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BY THE YEAR 2000," HE SAID.

COMMITMENT TO PROTECT RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

*

*

IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNISE THE FACT THAT ENACT A BILL OF RIGHTS IN 1990 THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTING IN PROPOSING ΤΟ ITSELF TO THE ENHANCEMENT AND PROTECTION OF BASIC RIGHTS AND IN THE TERRITORY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT A SESSION OF THE NINTH COMMONWEALTH LAW

MR

FREEDOMS

TODAY

HELD IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND,

CONFERENCE MATHEWS SAID FEATURE OF THE

THE MOST DRAMATIC BILL IS THAT IT WILL IN ITS LEGISLATION THAT

EFFECT REPEAL ALL INCONSISTENT WITH IT TO THE EXTENT OF ANY

INCONSISTENCY.

IS

"WE ARE BRINGING UNDER THE HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCES TOGETHER WITH SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION AND GIVING PEOPLE

MICROSCOPE OVER 500 RIGHT TO SUE THE GOVERNMENT IF THEY FIND THAT

THR FREEDOMS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED BY SUB-STANDARD LEGISLATION OR BY

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND ACTING IMPROPERLY UNDER LEGISLATIVE OR OTHER AUTHORITY,

PERSONS

HE SAID.

"THIS IS A MAJOR GOVERNMENTAL INITIATIVE ANTICIPATE ANY LEGISLATIVE AND OPERATIONAL VACUUMS BROUGHT ABOUT AS

AND IN ORDER TO RESULT OF LEGISLATION BEING DECLARED INCONSISTENT

A RIGHTS WE HAVE PROPOSED TO 'FREEZE' ALL

WITH THE BILL OF BOOK FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE OF ENACTMENT OF THE

ON THE STATUTE IN ORDER TO GIVE US TIME TO IDENTIFY ANY LAWS WHICH ARE WITH THE BILL AND TAKE THE NECESSARY REMEDIAL STEPS.

INCOMPATIBLE

UNDER

LEGISLATION

"WE ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT ALTHOUGH THE BILL OF RIGHTS BE ABLE ΤΟ

BILL

JUDGES WOULD

INOPERATIVE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REWRITE BAD LAWS.

RENDER INCONSISTENT LAWS BB CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT WE ARE NOT FREEZING THE BILL OF RIGHTS

BUT IT MUST TWO YEARS,"

Fr

FOR

ALL

MR MATHEWS SAID UPON ITS ENACTMENT THE BILL LAWS ENACTED AFTER IT AND WOULD ALSO BITE ON THE COMMON

WOULD AFFECT OFFENDING PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES WHICH DO NOT HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW. LAW AND ANY

"WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE

FACT THAT THE

THAT IT

BILL OF RIGHTS IS PURPORTS TO BIND ALL

UNUSUAL, BUT BY NO MEANS UNIQUE, IN PERSONS IN HONG KONG AND NOT JUST THE GOVERNMENT.

/"THIS IS