TNAG-1844-FCO40-2619-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 4

(b) Not to be SO

10. P. 43

affirmative

about the Bill of Rights.

Suggest instead to take the line in our Report to

Parliament : HKG are considering the implications if

the Basic Law, when promulgated, were to provide that

effect should be given to

be given to the Covenants through the

laws of the Hong Kong SAR. No conclusions yet but one

of the possibility is a Bill of Rights.

Remove

reference to Chinese views,since we do not have any record

of a clear Chinese statement.

(a)

First question.

The report was tabled after the

hearings. Amend first sentence accordingly. Amend

second sentence to read "Copies of Report also

deposited in public libraries."

(b)

Second question. То be

consistent with the Chief

Secretary's reply to Leg Co on 8 March, suggest to take

following line : In the past HKG efforts concentrated

on adopting

recognized in

their text.

measures to give effect to rights

the Covenants, instead of publicity to

Although general public may not be

familiar with the contents of the Covenants, good

awareness within the community of individual rights

because of an open society, free press which gives them

good coverage, and widely publicized channels for

complaints and redress of grievances. AS it stands

now, there is already tremendous interest.

publicity would include distribution of the Covenants

and

Further

information leaflets, civic education projects and

promotion of legal awareness.