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are backed up by many different provisions of statutory and

common law. In addition, the International Covenants on

Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and

Cultural Rights have been extended to Hong Kong since

And their continued application beyond 1997 is

1976.

guaranteed in the Joint Declaration.

46.

It is clear that there is now strong support in

the community for these freedoms to be entrenched through

the enactment of a Bill of Rights. The Government has been

such a Bill might taka. We propos0

considering what form

that it should give

provisions

of the

Political Rights.

their civil or

effect in local law to the relevant

International Covenant on Civil and

This means that if anyone believes that

political rights, as defined in the

Covenant, have been violated they wil1 be able to seek

redress in the courts. We aim to publish a White Bill for

public consultation by the end of this year and to

draft legislation into this Council by July

Within this timescale there will not be time for a

review of all our existing laws to remove any

introduce

1990.

comprehensive

areas of doubt about their full compatibility with the Bill

of

Rights.

62'd Σε

To avoid any

unnecessary uncertainties the

/draft

S'I'9

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