XN000022-1996-03-13 — Page 29

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We do not consider it proper to set up the Equal Opportunities Commission without its Chairperson. In order to ensure that the Commission can function effectively upon its commissioning, the preparatory team in my Branch has already secured its funding and office accommodation has been leased and furbished. Other preparatory work such as the drawing up of the proposed organisation structure and terms of reference for the Commission and its committees, and the terms and conditions for the recruitment of some 60 staff for the Commission office is being finalised. Work has also started on the preparation of draft Codes of Practice on employment for consideration by the Commission.

I would now turn to the second part of the question on the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, which many referred to as CEDAW. As the application of CEDAW will confer new international rights and obligations on Hong Kong, and as the Convention is intended to continue to apply after 1997, we need to consult the Chinese side at the Joint Liaison Group. We have handed over a speaking note together with the relevant information to the Chinese side in January this year and are awaiting their response.

In September last year, the United Kingdom completed a comprehensive review of the previous reservations which it entered under CEDAW. We have since then examined these reservations in respect of their relevance for Hong Kong. We propose to enter seven reservations upon the extension of CEDAW to Hong Kong. These seek to either clarify our obligations under the Convention or to reiterate the compatibility of some of our existing regulations and practices with the Convention. All but one are modelled on similar reservations to be retained by the United Kingdom. The exception covers the rent concessions provided for under the Joint Declaration and the small house policy. On this latter reservation, we had explained to the public the need for it in 1994 when we announced our intention to seek an extension of the Convention to Hong Kong.

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