TNAG-1846-FCO40-2621-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 67

SEAAFV

TEXT APPROVED BY MINISTERS.

PASSED TO FAC 13/iv/89 (264) (FAZED TO HKG, PEKING, MICREPILL)

SUPPLEMENTARY MEMORANDUM ON PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE

SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION ON 1984 ON HONG KONG

(FCO/FAC/12/89)

Mr Mclove

Mr Edwards Mrs Button, Uni inspect file

Enter

+. F

FAL

SUBMITTED BY THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

HKB 011/ priv

Background

Human Rights in Hong Kong

1. In 1976 Her Majesty's Government ratified the International

Covenant on Civil on Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International

Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) with

certain reservations (1), and extended the Covenants to 10

dependent territories including Hong Kong.

Application of the Covenants

to adopt such

British

2. There are no particular provisions in the Covenants prescribing

how effect should be given to them. Article 2(2) of the ICCPR

states that, "Where not already provided for by existing legislative

or other measures, each State Party to the present Covenant

undertakes to take the necessary steps

legislative or other measures as may be necessary to give effect to the rights recognised in the present Covenant. Article 2(1) of the

ICESCR has a similar provision that reads "each State Party to the

present Covenant undertakes to take steps

with a view to

achieving progressively the full realization of the rights recognised in the present Covenant by all appropriate means,

including particularly the adoption of legislative measures".

Note (1): The reservations applicable to Hong Kong relate to

legislation on equal pay for equal work for both sexes, federation of trade unions, representative government, and

appeal against the authority's decision on deportation.