TNAG-1754-FCO40-2474-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 111

ROBAKK (3)

KEC

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INCORPORATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COVENANTS INTO

HONG KONG'S DOMESTIC LAW

The two International Covenants (Civil and Political Rights;

and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) already apply to Hong

Kong, with certain reservations. The Joint Declaration provides that the provisions of the two Covenants, as applied to Hong Kong, shall remain in force. Article 38 of the draft Basic Law stipulates that these provisions as applied to Hong Kong shall be implemented through legislation by the Hong Kong SAR. If there was a general feeling in Hong Kong that these Covenants should now be incorporated into Hong Kong's present domestic law, we would be willing to consider with the Hong Kong Government how best to meet this point.

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