XN000022-1994-10-28 — Page 3

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1994

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UN CONVENTION ON CHILD RIGHTS EXTENDED TO HONG KONG

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GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE HAD RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM THE UNITED NATIONS THAT THE FORMALITIES FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD (THE CONVENTION) TO 12 DEPENDANT TERRITORIES, INCLUDING HONG KONG, HAD NOW BEEN COMPLETED.

THE NEWS WAS WELCOMED AS A FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONG KONG.

"THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EXTENSION OF THE CONVENTION IS THAT IT PLACES HONG KONG UNDER CONTINUING INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR INTERESTS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CONSULTED AND HAD NO OBJECTION IN PRINCIPLE TO THE EXTENSION OF THIS CONVENTION AND ITS CONTINUED APPLICATION TO HONG KONG AFTER 1997.

"UNDER THE CONVENTION, STATES PARTIES ARE OBLIGED то RESPECT AND ENSURE THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN SET OUT IN THE CONVENTION, SUCH AS THE RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION, AND TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SUCH THINGS AS DISCRIMINATION, ABUSE AND NEGLECT," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

1993,

"WITH THE ENACTMENT OF THE PARENT AND CHILD ORDINANCE IN WHICH REMEDIED DISCRIMINATORY PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN, OUR LAWS ARE ALREADY IN FULL ACCORD WITH THE CONVENTION IT HAS BEEN APPLIED TO HONG KONG.

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"THE EXTENSION OF THE CONVENTION DOES NOT NECESSITATE ANY FURTHER LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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IN EXTENDING THE CONVENTION THE UK HAS ENTERED A NUMBER OF RESERVATIONS AND DECLARATIONS FOR HONG KONG AND THE OTHER DEPENDANT TERRITORIES INVOLVED.

RESERVATIONS AND DECLARATIONS HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO HONG KONG IN SIX AREAS. FOUR OF THE RESERVATIONS AND DECLARATIONS HAVE THE SAME OR SIMILAR WORDING TO RESERVATIONS AND DECLARATIONS THE UK ENTERED FOR ITSELF WHEN IT RATIFIED THE CONVENTION IN 1991. ALL OF THESE RESERVATIONS AND DECLARATIONS HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO THE 12 DEPENDANT TERRITORIES INVOLVED IN THIS EXERCISE.

APPLICATION

"THESE INCLUDE RESERVATIONS TO ALLOW THE CONTINUED OF IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION AND TO ALLOW THE MIXING OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN DETENTION WHERE THERE IS A LACK OF SUITABLE DETENTION FACILITIES OR SUCH MIXING IS DEEMED MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL. SIMILAR RESERVATIONS ALREADY APPLY то HONG KONG WITH RESPECT ΤΟ THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, THE SPOKESMAN

SAID.

"REFLECTING CURRENT PRACTICE, A RESERVATION HAS BEEN ENTERED TO ALLOW HONG KONG TO CONTINUE FOR THE TIME BEING NOT TO REGULATE THE WORKING HOURS OF YOUNG PERSONS OF 15 YEARS IN AGE AND ABOVE IN NON- INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS.

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