TNAG-1211-FCO40-1514-Hong-Kong-laws-on-homosexuality-employment-of-homosexuals-wi-1982 — Page 12

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1982-05-18

Riksförbundet för sexuellt likaberättigande Member of the International Gay Association (IGA)

FOREIAN AND COMMUS.

The Foreign Secretary,

Mr Francis Pym

Foreign Office Whitehall

London, England

LTH OFFICE

Hk 20 MAY 1982

ALLOCATIONS SEL

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RECEIVED

INDEX

Hkk 380

7 MAY 182

HO. 51

SIRY Action Takes

DESK

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Mr Secretary,

In-

RFSL, the Swedish Federation for Sexual Equality, is the national orga- nization for homosexual rights in society. RFSL is a member of IGA, ternational Gay Association.

It has come to our knowledge that Mr Martin Rowlands, Secretary for the Civil Service in Hong Kong, in a Secretariat Confidential Circular no 106/82 (dated January 5, 1982 - ref DP 66/24-C) to Branch Secretaries and Heads of Department, has defined the existing policy and procedures regarding employment of homosexuals in the Hong Kong Civil Service.

It says in paragraph 3:

"No known homosexual should be appointed to the Hong Kong Civil Service irrespective of rank or grade. Where a can- didate for appointment is a suspected homosexual, the case should be referred to the Secretary for the Civil Service."

RFSL conciders this discrimination of homosexuals (and "suspected homo- sexuals") extremely outrageous and in direct contradiction to article 25 of the United Nations Convention of Human Rights, regulating the ad- mission to public services.

RFSL demands that you take immediate action to abolish this very offen- ding, and for Great Britain disgraceful, direction.

RIKSFÖRBUNDET FÖR SEXUELLT LIKABERÄTTIGANDE (RFSL)

RIKSFÖRBU

Kjell Riudar

Kjell Rindar

Chairman

Copy to:

United Nations Human Rights Committee, Geneva IGA Political Actions Secretariat, Amsterdam IGA Information Secretariat, Dublin

Postadress

Box 350

10124 STOCKHOLM

See (84)

Telefon 08-845576

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