XN000022-1994-10-11 — Page 5

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4

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1994

RIGHTS PROTECTION WELL ON TARGET

* *

IN

A GREAT DEAL OF PREPARATORY WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST YEAR HAVE PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND CONCRETE RESULTS BEEN ACHIEVED IN ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL AFFAIRS, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

POLICY

TARGETS

IN THE FIELD OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL, AND OBJECTIVES AT A CONCEPTUAL STAGE WHEN THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH (HAB) WAS FORMED IN MID-OCTOBER 1993 HAVE EITHER BEEN TRANSLATED INTO FIRM LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS OR HAVE ALREADY BECOME PART OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME, HE SAID.

DATA

ELABORATING ON HAB'S POLICY COMMITMENTS AT A MEDIA BRIEFING, MR WHICH SUEN SAID THE ON-GOING PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS AND NEW INITIATIVES RUN THE GAMUT OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESS TO INFORMATION, PROTECTION, FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WERE CLEARLY SET OUT IN A BROCHURE ENTITLED "HUMAN RIGHTS IN A RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY" PRESENTED AS PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS PACKAGE.

PROMOTION OF GENDER EQUALITY, MR SUEN SAID A SEX DISCRIMINATION BILL WOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 1994-95 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE ON

COUNCIL

"THE BILL WILL MAKE SEX DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT UNLAWFUL AND PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION.

**WE

ARE ALSO SEEKING THE EXTENSION TO HONG KONG OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW)," HE SAID.

TURNING TO DATA

ΤΟ

PROTECTION,

MR SUEN SAID PROPOSALS FOR

LEGISLATION

PROTECT THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT ΤΟ THE PRIVACY OF PERSONAL DATA WERE BEING FINALISED.

"STATUTORY CONTROL OF THE COLLECTION, HOLDING, USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL DATA SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL'S PRIVACY WITH RESPECT TO PERSONAL DATA IS PROPERLY PROTECTED.

"IT SHOULD

TO ALSO SAFEGUARD THE FREE FLOW OF PERSONAL DATA HONG KONG FROM THE IMPOSITION OF RESTRICTIONS BY COUNTRIES THAT ALREADY HAVE DATA PROTECTION LEGISLATION, HE ADDED.

..

ON THE EXTENSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS THE CHILD ΤΟ HONG KONG, MR SUEN EXPECTED

то FORMALITIES

BE

COMPLETED IN OCTOBER.

OF

"EXTENSION OF THE CONVENTION WILL PLACE HONG KONG UNDER CONTINUING INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND PROTECT AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR INTERESTS."

AS FOR THE COMMITMENT TO GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT, MR SUEN SAID DRAFTING OF THE CODE OF PRACTICE ON ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION WAS AT AN ADVANCED STAGE.

/"WE ARE