XN000022-1996-11-08 — Page 3

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UN Committee calls for continued reporting on human rights in HK after 1997

The Government welcomes the Concluding Observations published today (Friday) by the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) following its hearing in Geneva on October 23 on the supplementary report on Hong Kong under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

A Government spokesman said: "The British and Hong Kong Governments agree entirely with the Human Rights Committee's main conclusion that human rights treaties devolve with territory and the protection of human rights under the Covenant cannot be denied to the people of Hong Kong merely by virtue of transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from Britain to China. Moreover, China is obliged under the Joint Declaration to ensure the continued application after July 1, 1997 of all the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights including that of submitting periodic reports on Hong Kong.

"The British Government has urged the Chinese Government to work with them and to agree on a way for this to be done," he added.

On the Committee's suggestions and recommendations on Britain's responsibilities in respect of Hong Kong, the spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has made it clear that the British Government takes its responsibilities towards Hong Kong and its people very seriously. It has an abiding concern that the promises set out in the Joint Declaration will be met in full both before and after the transfer of sovereignty. To this end, the British Government will continue to work with their Chinese counterparts to arrive at a satisfactory solution to the question of the continued application of the Covenant to Hong Kong."

Commenting on the Committee's request for a further report, the spokesman said: "The British Government will submit a further report to the Human Rights Committee to cover the period up to the transfer of sovereignty."

The spokesman indicated that the Committee's Concluding Observations would be passed to the Chinese Government.

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