TNAG-0485-FCO40-550-UK-publications-on-labour-and-social-conditions-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 48

CONFIDENTIAL

STATEMENT ON THE POSITION OF THE

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT

COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL

AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

ARTICLE 1

:

1IT

The circumstances of Hong Kong are special and prohibit any constitutional progress on the path customarily followed by dependent territories.

*

ARTICLE 2

In the statement on the position of the Hong Kong Government submitted in June 1967, it was mentioned that the requirement regarding language might be held not to be complied with in Hong Kong in view of the fact that the language in which the law was, and was envisaged in the future as being, expressed was English, which was not the language of the majority of the population. Since then, the English and Chinese languages have been declared, under the Official Languages Ordinance 1974 which came into operation on 14th February 1974, the official languages for the purpose of communication between the Government or any public officer and members of the public. However, judicial proceedings in the courts are conducted in English, though provision has been made for proceedings in Magistrates Courts to be conducted in English or in Chinese.

2 -

CONFIDENTIAL

ARTICLE 3