XN000022-1995-11-16 — Page 10

9.

Governor: I've actually been with inspectors when they've been doing exactly what the honourable member recommends. It is an issue on which one needs to be proactive and not just reactive. If you travel around Hong Kong, as the honourable member will know better than me, you're I suppose impressed, among other things, by the large number of examples of illegal structures which our inspectors have to deal with, particularly in some of the most crowded and busy and elderly areas. And so, a combination of the proactive and the reactive. But I hope that people will recognise that what will sometimes seem to them merely the extension of a commercial opportunity, can be the end of somebody else's life.

Mr Lee Cheuk-yan (in Chinese): Thank you Mr President. Recently the PWC wants to reinstate the older versions of six ordinances and Hong Kong people are now very concerned about the protection of the human rights. But I can say there are many people, including Councillors, who are not well conversant with the Bill of Rights.

Yesterday I listened to the debate here. Some Councillors said that the Bill of Rights actually gives protection to the criminals and they say that human rights are too excessive. So, Hong Kong people have very little knowledge of human rights and sometimes they get confused because of this kind of statement, so they don't have much knowledge of the Bill of Rights and they can be even more confused.

So, Mr Governor, have you considered setting up a human rights education fund, so that the NGOs in Hong Kong can have the resources to promote human rights education? So that the Hong Kong people can be better conversant with human rights, with the Bill of Rights, with the protection of their rights, with the two international

covenants.

Governor: There were a number of claims made yesterday about the impact of the Bill of Rights. There were a number made in one Councillor's speech I'm not sure whether he's here this afternoon, but I'm sure he won't mind me addressing his, he is here this afternoon. I'm sure he won't mind me addressing his, doubtless inadvertent errors, in the course of my remarks this afternoon. Errors which underlined the case which the honourable member has made for greater human rights education.

It was claimed yesterday that the Bill of Rights Ordinance has enabled tax defaulters to leave Hong Kong without paying their tax. The fact is that the Commissioner of Inland Revenue has ample power to prevent people who owe tax from leaving Hong Kong without paying it. Since July 1993, 119 Departure Prevention Orders have been made by the District Court on application by the Commissioner.

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