TNAG-1178-FCO40-1480-Human-rights-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 5

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I P.Q. Attached].

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1981 3 1 AF413

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PQS: HONG KONG

I submit draft replies and background notes to 4 PQs from

Mr Robert Parry MP for priority written answer on 2 March.

These are based on information from the Hong Kong Government.

Sir E Youde has seen them and concurs.

2.

Question 3 is a difficult one. There are no accepted

definitions of civic liberties and human rights. The Hong Kong

Government have stated that the position in Hong Kong is very

similar to that in the United Kingdom and that their record is

good. They therefore suggested that the answer might contain the

statement that the human rights and civic liberties available

in the Territory compare very favourably with any country in

Asia and most in Europe. I do not, however, recommend that we

go beyond the draft since it could very reasonably be claimed,

among other things, that an elected legislature is one of the

basic human rights and this, of course, is not available in Hong

Kong.

1 March 1982

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R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

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