XN000022-1995-07-12 — Page 29

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Honourable members will need no reminding from me of the on-going exercise of reviewing legislation to ensure compliance with the Bill of Rights Ordinance. Since the enactment of the Ordinance four years ago in 1991, there have been 29 amending ordinances or regulations made for the purpose of bringing legislation into line with the Bill of Rights.

Other proposed amendments are currently being scrutinised by the Council, including bills to amend the Public Order Ordinance and the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance.

Overlapping with the review of legislation in the light of the Bill of Rights Ordinance is the review of legislation that may infringe freedom of expression, in particular, press freedom. As a result of that review, amendments have been made or are about to be made to a wide range of ordinances and regulations including the following:-

the Television Ordinance and Broadcasting Authority Ordinance;

the Summary Offences Ordinance;

the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance;

the Registration of Local Newspapers Regulations;

the Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Ordinance;

the Defamation Ordinance;

the Regulations made under the Emergency Regulations Ordinance.

Plans are being finalised in respect of the Official Secrets Acts and the Crimes Ordinance, among others. A bill is now before this Council providing safeguards in respect of the search and seizure of journalistic material. The bill is a further proof (if such be needed) of the Government's firm commitment to a free and vigorous press in Hong Kong.

OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS MEASURES

Other measures introduced by the Government to enhance human rights protection in Hong Kong include the following:-

the extension to Hong Kong of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the domestic enactment of the Crimes (Torture) Ordinance;