TNAG-1152-FCO40-1432-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-Commonwealth-1982 — Page 15

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CONFIDENTIAL

annex C

III.

11.

Protection and Maintenance of Human Rights within

the Commonwealth

So far as the protection and maintenance of human rights

within the Commonwealth is concerned, we proceeded from the

recognition that the Meetings of Heads of Government are them-

selves the ultimate authority for joint action on human rights

in the Commonwealth.

12.

It must be recognised, however, that Meetings of Heads

of Government take place only once every two years and in the

intervening period the Commonwealth association is without any

effective formal machinery to assist the process of protection

of human rights within the Commonwealth. Although we agreed

that initially activity should be directed to the promotion of

human rights, nevertheless with a view to filling this gap, as

well as assisting Heads of Government in this difficult but

most important task, we recommend the establishment of machinery

within the Commonwealth which could be called upon to assist

Governments as a particular situation warrants.

13.

Having considered all aspects of the machinery

envisaged in the Gambian Memorandum and having taken account

of the views expressed by other Governments, we came to the

conclusion that the objective of that Memorandum would best be

met if the machinery were flexible, conciliatory rather than accusatory, and respected the special consensual tradition of the Commonwealth. The overall objective would be, whilst

respecting the sovereignty of Commonwealth Governments, to.

offer counsel and guidance, and to recommend in a spirit of

conciliation remedial action to the Governments concerned in

resolving problems and achieving effective implementation of their human rights obligations under global and regional

instruments.

CONFIDENTIAL

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