TNAG-1293-FCO40-1645-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-United-Nations-1984 — Page 52

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Reference

3

see (6

HKK

RECEIVED

Mr Edwards Legal Advisers

PQ FROM MR ROBERT PARRY MP

1.

Mr Parry has asked the following PQ for answer on 16 February.

To ask the Secre tary of State forForeign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will state what international conventions on human rights have been signed by the United Kingdom but not ratified by the Hong Kong Government

2.

The reason behind the question is the treatment of a number of Iranian refugees held in Hong Kong prisons, (about which he has asked a number of related questions) but we also need to answer this on its face value.

3. As I understand it, when the UK ratifies an international convention of this sort, our ratification embraces the dependant territories, including Hong Kong, except where we make specific reservations. Hong Kong cannot ratify such conventions on her own behalf, but the Hong Kong Government would of course have a say in whether general or particular reservations were necessary.

4.

The UK has ratified thirteen International Conventions or Protocols relating to human rights, and signed but not ratified one (the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women). I am excluding the ECHR and its Protocols which come under the heading of regional rather than international conventions-and it might look like point scoring if the ECHR were mentioned in the answer.

5. Of these thirteen, the UK entered reservations or interpretative statements on nine of these nine, there are threeincluding the two main Human Rights Covenants, in which the reservation makes specific mention of Hong Kong.;-

2.

b.

C

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriag and Registration of Marriages.

Copies of the relevant reservations are attached.

6. I should be grateful for your confirmation that I have understo the position correctly and that, with these three exceptions, the UK's ratification covers Hong Kong as well.

022/5

REGISTRY

16FEP 1984ruary 1984

DESK OFFICED

Дм

M Mainwood

D M Mainwood

United Nations Dept K154 2338647

INDEX

CODE 18 77

PA

Miss Walker (Hong Kong Dept) Mepherd (NTD)

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