XN000022-1994-07-01 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1994

OBSERVATIONS ON SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ISSUED THE FOLLOWING

(FRIDAY):

STATEMENT

TODAY

"THE

BRITISH GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) PUBLISHED THE FOREIGN SECRETARY'S OBSERVATIONS ON THE REPORT

REPORT BY THE

BY THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINA IN THE PERIOD UP TO AND BEYOND 1997.

"THE OBSERVATIONS ARE A FULL RESPONSE TO THE COMMITTEE'S

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

"THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY CONSULTED ON THOSE PARTS OF THE OBSERVATIONS DEALING WITH THE TERRITORY. THEY THEREFORE REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AND MAKE CLEAR THAT WE AGREE WITH MOST OF THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

"WE STRONGLY AGREE THAT HONG KONG'S CONTINUED SUCCESS WILL DEPEND ON AN IMPARTIAL AND EFFICIENT CIVIL SERVICE, THE RULE of

LAW, AND

A LEGISLATURE RESPONSIVE TO THE WISHES OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE' AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE IS WITHIN THE AGREEMENTS REACHED WITH CHINA. THE TASK NOW IS TO MOVE ON, IN CLOSE CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA.

OTHER ISSUES

"THE GOVERNMENT AGREES THAT THE WORK OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP NEEDS ΤΟ BE STEPPED UP TO DEAL WITH THE 'VAST AGENDA OF OTHER BUSINESS' WHICH NEEDS TO BE SETTLED TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION.

"WE

THEREFORE WELCOME THE RESULTS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP 29TH MEETING, PARTICULARLY THE DEFENCE LANDS AGREEMENT. WE NOW HOPE FOR EARLY AGREEMENTS ON THE AIRPORT AND ON CONTAINER TERMINAL 9.

THE RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS

"HONG KONG'S GOOD HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD RESTS ON THE FOUNDATIONS THE BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE, THE RULE OP LAW AND A TRULY INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY.

OF

** THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE COMMITTER'S RECOMMENDATION FOR AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, BUT HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE CASE FOR SUCH COMMISSION IS NOT WELL-FOUNDED,

"THE GOVERNMENT WILL THEREFORE BUILD ON EXISTING INSTITUTIONS, AND INTRODUCE A SERIES OF SPECIFIC AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS SAFEGUARDS IN HONG KONG.

/"PROPOSALS ON