XN000022-1991-06-05 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1991

(IOM),

H

WITH HE

"THESE DISCUSSIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IN CLOSE CONSULTATION UNHCR AND

MIGRATION THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR NOTED.

OUT,

FOR THOSE WHO HAD LEFT VIETNAM AND WHO HAD NOW BEEN SCREENED THERE WOULD BE NO RESETTLEMENT.

THE WASHINGTON TALKS ALSO AGREED THAT CUTOFF DATES WOULD REMAIN IN FORCE AND WOULD IN NO CIRCUMSTANCES BE CHANGED AT A LATER DATE.

GOVT IS COMMITTED TO PRESERVE HUMAN RIGHTS: CS

THE ENACTMENT OF HONG KONG BILL OF RIGHTS BILL 1990 REPRESENTS FURTHER EVIDENCE OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S COMMITMENT ΤΟ THE PRESERVATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONG KONG, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, HON SIR DAVID FORD SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE

"I SAY 'FURTHER EVIDENCE' FOR THERE IS, I BELIEVE, CAUSE TO RECOGNISE THE FACT THAT OUR RECORD IN THE FIELD IS ONE OF WHICH WE SHOULD BE READILY PROUD, SIR DAVID SAID WHEN SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

DEBATE RIGHTS.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY NOTED IT HAD BEEN SUGGESTED DURING THE

THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS REGRESSIVE WHEN IT CAME ΤΟ CIVIL'

*THAT IS AN ALLEGATION THAT DOES NOT BEAR RATIONAL EXAMINATION. OUR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD IS A GOOD ONE, AND IT IS PROGRESSIVE. THERE IS

AMPLE EVIDENCE TO SHOW IT, SIR DAVID SAID, CITING THE FOLLOWING CURRENT AND RECENT EXAMPLES :

*

་་

THE PRESENT PREPARATION OF A TORTURE BILL, TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE;

*

THE ABOLITION OF JUDICIAL CORPORAL PUNISHMENT;

*

THE REPEAL OF PART OF THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE DEALING WITH POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS;

THE PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE LAWS ON HOMOSEXUALITY;

* THE KXAMINATION BY THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION OF POLICE POWERS OF ARREST, DETENTION, SEARCH AND SEIZURE, AND THE LAWS RELATING ΤΟ ILLEGITIMACY AND TO THE PROTECTION OF PRIVACY.

WELL

CATALOGUE,

SIR DAVID SAID THIS WAS A CATALOGUE OF AN ADMINISTRATION COMMITTED TO THE SAFEGUARDING OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND TO THAT THE GOVERNMENT NOW ADDED A BILL OF RIGHTS FOR HONG KONG.

/REFERRING TO