XN000022-1995-11-17 — Page 5

- 3 -

HK Government firmly committed to protecting human rights

The Hong Kong Government has long been committed, and remains strongly committed, to the policy of promoting, enhancing and protecting internationally recognised human rights in the territory.

Principal Crown Counsel, Mr Stephen Wong, said this to the United Nations Committee Against Torture in Geneva today (Friday, Geneva time).

In his opening statement at a hearing in Geneva on Hong Kong's initial report under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel. Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Mr Wong said this was a policy which the Hong Kong Government had pursued both by formal legal process and the adoption of appropriate administrative measures and social programmes.

He pointed out that the Crimes (Torture) Ordinance, which came into effect in January 1993, not merely specifically created and defined the offence of torture and stipulated an appropriately severe punishment for it, it also provided a number of procedural guarantees and safeguards which the Convention obliged States Party to have in place.

To supplement these various legal provisions which were especially relevant to the Torture Convention, he said, Hong Kong also had a number of institutions and administrative arrangements which were intended to make those provisions more meaningful and effective.

"In particular, a well-entrenched tradition of respect for the rule of law; a truly independent judiciary; and numerous channels for the redress of complaints, including a Commissioner for Administrative Complaints and an Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC)," Mr Wong said.

He also noted that a number of special initiatives had already been taken, or were currently being taken, to facilitate the handling of cases where human rights violations had occurred - these included any allegation of torture.

"These initiatives include providing more resources to the Judiciary to ensure that cases are heard expeditiously and making legal aid more readily available to persons pursuing claims under the Bill of Rights Ordinance.