XN000022-1994-10-05 — Page 36

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1994 ·

"THIS IS A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT BY OUR POLICE FORCE AND REFLECTS THE GREATEST CREDIT ON THEIR PROFESSIONALISM," HE SAID.

AN

TO CONTINUE THE BATTLE AGAINST CORRUPTION, MR PATTEN NOTED THAT INDEPENDENT REVIEW COMMITTEE WAS SET UP TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE POWERS OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION WERE STILL APPROPRIATE, NECESSARY AND SUFFICIENT, AND WHETHER ITS SYSTEMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY WERE ADEQUATE.

"IN

BE

IT WOULD PRESENT ITS REPORT BY THE END OF THE YEAR, HE SAID.

CONSIDERING THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS, THERE CAN NO QUESTION OF RELAXING HONG KONG'S LONG-STANDING INSISTENCE THAT HIGH

MUST APPLY ETHICAL STANDARDS

TO BOTH THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND THE BUSINESS WORLD,

"

THE GOVERNOR SAID.

AMBITIOUS PACKAGE TO DEFEND RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS

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THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) UNVEILED A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE TO BE INTRODUCED OVER THE NEXT MONTHS TO STRENGTHEN THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION.

FOLLOWING ARE DETAILS OF THE PACKAGE:

*

THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD WILL BE IMPLEMENTED;

AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO EXTEND TO HONG KONG THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL, FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW);

LEGISLATION WILL BE INTRODUCED ΤΟ PROHIBIT SEX DISCRIMINATION IN AREAS SUCH AS EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND THE PROVISION OF GOODS AND SERVICES. ALSO, LEGISLATION WILL BE INTRODUCED TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION ON THE GROUNDS OF

DISABILITY;

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION WILL BE SET UP TO OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION;

THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE A CODE ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION WHICH WILL COVER THE WHOLE OF THE GOVERNMENT BY THE END OF 1996. THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS WILL INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF FAILURE BY OFFICIALS TO HONOUR THIS CODE;

LEGISLATION WILL BE INTRODUCED BASED ON ESTABLISHED INTERNATIONAL PRINCIPLES TO SAFEGUARD THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO THE PRIVACY OF PERSONAL DATA, TO BE ENFORCED BY AN INDEPENDENT DATA PROTECTION AGENCY; AND

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