XN000022-1996-10-22 — Page 3

- 2 -

The spokesman said: "The two bus franchises are for six years from June 1, 1997. No profit control scheme will be applied.

"The franchise provisions are similar to those in the latest franchises awarded to other bus franchisees.

"To cater for the operating needs of the new airport, Long Win and Citybus are additionally required to provide a customer service centre to assist passengers at the airport and to provide a control centre to ensure direct communication links with the Airport Authority."

End

CEDAW extended to HK

A Government spokesman announced today (Tuesday) that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has just been advised by the United Nations Treaty Section that the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was extended to Hong Kong on October 14, 1996.

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 women, eradicate discrimination and provide for their interests," the spokesman said.

"The Chinese Government has been consulted and has agreed to the extension of this Convention and its continued application to Hong Kong after 1997.

"Under the Convention, states parties are obliged to respect and promote the rights of women as set out in the Convention, such as to ensure the full and equal participation of women in political, civil, economic, social and cultural life, at the national, regional and international levels, and to ensure the eradication of all forms of discrimination on ground of sex," he said.

"With the enactment of the Sex Discrimination Ordinance last year, which makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the ground of sex, marital status or pregnancy, or to sexually harass a person, Hong Kong is well positioned to meet the objectives of the Convention.