XN000022-1993-10-06 — Page 37

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1993

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DECISION TO JOIN CEDAW TO BE MADE NEXT YEAR

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THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID HE HOPED HE WOULD BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE EARLY NEXT YEAR A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT HONG KONG SHOULD JOIN THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW).

DELIVERING HIS SECOND ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR PATTEN SAID FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION WAS ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF HONG KONG'S OPEN SOCIETY.

"BUT I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE GIVEN INSUFFICIENT ATTENTION TO WHETHER HALF OF OUR POPULATION, HONG KONG'S WOMEN, ARE FAIRLY TREATED AND ADEQUATELY PROTECTED.

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THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED A GREEN PAPER ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN AUGUST TO ASCERTAIN THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC ON HOW то PROMOTE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND END DISCRIMINATION.

FROM THE COMMENTS RECEIVED, HE SAID IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE BIG ISSUE FOR MANY PEOPLE IS WHETHER HONG KONG SHOULD JOIN CEDAW.

A FULLER LIFE AHEAD

THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO ESTABLISHI A PROVISIONAL ARTS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL EARLY NEXT YEAR TO PREPARE THE GROUND FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FULL COUNCIL.

IT ALSO PROPOSES TO GIVE THE FULL COUNCIL A GENEROUS START WITH A GRANT OF $100 MILLION,

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FINANCIAL

ANNOUNCING THIS IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE GOVERNOR THE RT HON CHRISTOHER PATTEN, SAID THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS WOULD PROVIDE SEED MONEY TO ENABLE THE COUNCIL TO MAKE AN IMPRESSIVE START.

THEY WILL ENABLE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENTLY AND MANAGED COUNCIL, SUPPORTING NEW ART FORMS AND ACTIVITIES.

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"TO DO THE JOB EFFECTIVELY I WILL WISH ΤΟ APPOINT CAPABLE, COMMITTED MEMBERS TO THE COUNCIL, PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT A WIDE CROSS- SECTION OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY, AND PERFORMERS AS WELL AS PATRONS.

"I AM PLEASED THAT SIR JOSEPH HOTUNG HAS AGREED TO SERVE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PROVISIONAL ARTS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL HE SAID.

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THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID HONG KONG WAS DESPERATELY KEEN ΤΟ SEE ITS TEAMS AND ATHLETES TAKE ON AND BEAT THE WORLD'S BEST.

"I HOPE THE SPORTING COMMUNITY WILL RISE TO THIS CHALLENGE BRING HOME TO HONG KONG A CLUTCH OF OLYMPIC MEDALS IN 1996."

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