XN000022-1993-10-27 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1993

ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG ACCEDING TO THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN, MR SUEN SAID THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WOULD CONSIDER IT EARLY NEXT YEAR AFTER THE EXPIRY OF THE CONSULTATION PERIOD.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE, HE SAID, WAS THE QUESTION OF COMPATIBILITY OF LOCAL LAWS WITH THE BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE.

IN THIS CONNECTION, HE SAID A REVIEW BY POLICY SECRETARIES OF LEGISLATION UNDER THEIR PURVIEW HAD RESULTED IN THE DRAWING UP OF A PROGRAMME OF LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS TO BRING THE LAWS IN LINE WITH THE ORDINANCE.

THIRTEEN SUCH AMENDMENT BILLS HAVE, SO FAR, BEEN ENACTED AND ANOTHER EIGHT ARE IN THE PIPELINE.

A SEPARATE EXERCISE HAS ALSO BEEN CARRIED OUT TO IDENTIFY LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS WHICH IMPACT ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION.

WERE

"AS A RESULT OF THAT EXERCISE, SEVEN LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS IDENTIFIED FOR REPEAL OR AMENDMENT, AS AND WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME ALLOWS.

"WORK ON TRIS HAD BEGUN AND I WILL BE MONITORING CLOSELY," HE POINTED OUT.

PROGRESS

MR SUEN ADDED THAT NEW ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES HAD BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO GIVE THE PUBLIC MUCH GREATER ACCESS TO INFORMATION HELD BY THE GOVERNMENT.

PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN NOW CHECK PERSONAL INFORMATION THEY HAVE PROVIDED TO THE GOVERNMENT.

IN ADDITION, ACCESS BY THE PUBLIC UNDER THE 30-YEAR RULE TO GOVERNMENT RECORDS HELD BY THE GOVERNMENT RECORDS OFFICE HAS, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN NECESSARY SAFEGUARDS, BEEN EXTENDED TO COVER CLASSIFIED WELL AS UNCLASSIFIED RECORDS.

AS

"I WELL APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS OF MEMBERS AND OTHERS THAT UNDERLIE THE CALLS FOR US TO GO FURTHER WITH RESPECT то ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

"I WILL SERIOUSLY CONSIDER WHAT ADDITIONAL MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN IN PURSUANCE OF THE GENERAL AIM OF GREATER OPENNESS.

TURNING ΤΟ DATA PROTECTION, MR SUEN NOTED THAT THERE WAS GROWING AWARENESS AND CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE THREAT POSED TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO PRIVACY BY THE EVER INCREASING QUANTITIES OF PERSONAL DATA THAT WERE BEING COLLECTED, STORED AND TRANSFERRED BETWEEN DIFFERENT ORGANISATIONS, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.

COUNTRIES THAT ARE

"I AM ALSO MINDFUL OF THE GROWING TREND OF INTRODUCING RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF DATA TO PLACES CONSIDERED NOT TO HAVE AN ACCEPTABLE REGULATORY REGIME FOR PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA.

THE

ΤΟ

"THIS REQUIRES SERIOUS TREATMENT BECAUSE OF ITS POTENTIAL IMPEDE THE CONDUCT OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS BY ANY COMPANY WITH A BASE IN HONG KONG."

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/HOWEVER, MR