XN000022-1994-05-16 — Page 2

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MONDAY, MAY 16, 1994

FORMAL RESPONSE TO RIGHTS REPORTS BEFORE END OF JUNE

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID THIS (MONDAY) EVENING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS HOPING TO GIVE A FORMAL RESPONSE TO THE REPORTS OF THE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (FAC) BEFORE THE END OF NEXT MONTH.

ADDRESSING THE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE ISSUES WOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH EXECUTIVE COUNCILLORS.

HE SAID: "YOUR REPORT, AND THE FAC'S REPORT, WILL BE AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA FOR MY TALKS WITH THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, THE MINISTER OF STATE, MR GOODLAD, AND OFFICIALS WHEN I AM IN LONDON NEXT WEEK.

"OUR FORMAL RESPONSE WILL NOT BE TOO LONG DELAYED. WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE IT BY THE END OF JUNE, WHEN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT ARE DUE.

ON THE SETTING UP OF A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, THE GOVERNOR SAID THERE WERE COMPETING ARGUMENTS SURROUNDING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF SUCH A COMMISSION AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD WEIGH ALL THE POINTS BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.

BUT HE ALSO STRESSED THAT THE ULTIMATE PROTECTORS AND GUARANTORS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONG KONG WERE THE RULE OF LAW AND AN

INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY.

MR

PATTEN NOTED THAT HONG KONG'S HUMAN RIGHTS AFTER 1997 WERE CLEARLY PROTECTED IN INTERNATIONAL LAWS BY THE JOINT DECLARATION, AND

IN HONG KONG LAW BY THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND OTHER LAWS.

HE SAID THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD UNDERTAKEN IN THE JOINT DECLARATION, ΤΟ ENSURE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS (ICCPR) AND THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS (ICESCR) SHOULD REMAIN IN FORCE.

THE OBLIGATION OF BRITAIN TO REPORT ON HONG KONG ΤΟ THE RELEVANT BODIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS WOULD NO DOUBT PASS FROM BRITAIN TO CHINA AFTER JULY 1, 1997, HE SAID.

ONE OF THE SIMPLEST ANSWERS FOR CHINA TO FULFIL ITS OBLIGATIONS WAS TO SIGN UP ITSELF TO THE TWO COVENANTS TO CHANGE ITS NON-PARTY STATUS, THE GOVERNOR NOTED.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO GAVE A TIMETABLE ON THE AMENDMENT OF LEGISLATION AFTER THE LAUNCHING OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS IN LINE WITH THE ICCPR.

HE SAID SO FAR 14 AMENDING BILLS HAD ALREADY BEEN ENACTED.

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"WE HAVE A CLEAR TIMETABLE FOR AMENDING A FURTHER ORDINANCES, INCLUDING THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE, THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE AND THE PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT ORDINANCE."

申申

/HE SAID