XN000022-1990-07-11 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1990

6

IMMATURE ARE

"WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE YOUNG, INNOCENT AND PROTECTED AGAINST ADVANCES BY THE OLDER AND MORE EXPERIENCED.

"THE AGE SET IN RESPECT OF HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONS IS

THERE IS, I SUPPOSE, SOME LOGIC IN SETTING THE SAME

HE SAID.

16 AND HOMOSEXUALS,

CURRENTLY

AGE

FOR

AGE OF PURPOSES OTHER

VIEWED FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE, SIR DAVID SAID, THE MAJORITY FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN FOR ALL CONTRACTUAL THAN MARRIAGE, WAS BEING LOWERED TO 18.

TI

CONDUCT OF

IF A MAN IS JUDGED LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUSINESS AFFAIRS AT THAT AGE, SHOULD HE NOT ALSO BE DEEMED RESPONSIBLE FOR MATTERS OF SEXUAL CHOICE?" HE SAID.

"IN COMING TO A DECISION ON THE QUESTION OF THE AGE OF I AM SURE

CONSENT THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD WISH US TO ERR ON THE PROTECTING

SIDE THE

OF YOUNG AND IMMATURE EVEN IF THIS MEANS DEGREE OF INCONSISTENCY WITH OUR OTHER LAWS ON THE AGE OF MAJORITY.

ACCEPTING A

"ABOVE ALL WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE DECISION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN HOMOSEXUAL LIAISONS IS AN INFORMED AND CONSCIOUS ONE,

To

HE

ENGAGE ADDED.

11

ON THE QUESTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, SIR DAVID COMMUNITIES WITH MORE EXPERIENCE OF DEMOCRACY THAN HONG KONG HAVE COME SAID: THOSE INESCAPABLY TO ONE CONCLUSION: THAT THE MAJORITY SHOULD ONLY ITS WILL ON THE MINORITY IN CASES WHERE THE WIDER PUBLIC OVERWHELMINGLY REQUIRES, AND THAT OTHERWISE THERE SHOULD FLEXIBILITY.

IMPOSE INTEREST

BE MAXIMUM

"INDEED FOR MANY THE DEGREE OF TOLERANCE OF MINORITIES MEASURE OF THE CIVILISED QUALITY OF A SOCIETY.

IS A

"WHILE THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS MAKES NO SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO HOMOSEXUALITY OUR PRESENT LAW WOULD, WE BELIEVE, BE OPEN TO CHALLENGE UNDER THE BILL OF RIGHTS THIS COUNCIL IN ITS DEBATE TWO WEEKS AGO."

ENDORSED

BY

WISH MALES WHO

IN CONCLUSION, SIR DAVID SAID: "THE COMMUNITY HAS NO REAL FOR THE AUTHORITIES TO SEEK OUT AND PROSECUTE HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVE DECENTLY IN PUBLIC.

"I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY RECOILS FROM THE INVASION OF PRIVACY WHICH SUCH ENFORCEMENT WOULD ENTAIL."

INSTINCTIVELY

A FRIGHTFUL

/7

+