the laws previously in force in Hong Kong, including freedom of the person, of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, to form and join trade unions, of correspondence, of travel, of movement, of strike, of demonstration, of choice of occupation, of academic research, of belief, inviolability of the home, the freedom to marry and the right to raise a family freely". These provisions are reflected in Chapter III of the second draft of the Basic Law.
12. At the end of 1987 and beginning of 1988, partly in relation to
issues being discussed in the drafting of the Basic Law and partly in response to calls for human rights legislation in Hong Kong, the Attorney General of Hong Kong convened a series of meetings with members of the legal profession drawn from both the public and private sectors and from academic institutions. The aim of the meetings was to provide a forum for members to discuss the subject of human rights and the form human rights legislation might take
were it decided to enact such legislation.
13. Following those meetings, members of the Attorney General's
Chambers have been studying how Article 39 of the draft Basic Law, if eventually promulgated in its present form as part of the Basic Law, could best be implemented in Hong Kong. One option would be to retain and improve the present system based on a combination of legislative measures, common law and administrative rules. option, which is being given careful consideration, would be the enactment of a Human Rights Ordinance. The examination of this, and
other possibilities, has only just begun.
Another
Other human rights instruments
14. The United Kingdom's ratification of the International
Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination
applies to Hong Kong. Ratification of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Degrading or Inhuman Treatment will be
extended to Hong Kong once local legislation is in place. The
relevant Bill will be introduced into Hong Kong's Legislative
Council this year.
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Private notes are available after approval.