TNAG-2154-FCO40-3074-Human-rights-in-Hong-Kong-United-Nations-Committee-on-the-El-1990 — Page 48

Could you give further details on how you would intend to

do this and the implications. In particular :

(a) Since we shall have to discuss with the Chinese the

extension of CEDAW as a new IRO to Hong Kong, it will soon

become apparent to them that we are entering into an

international obligation which might entail amendment to the JD

(and also to the Basic Law). We cannot expect them to take

this lightly.

Both have

(b) Would you be thinking in terms of terminating the

existing policies or extending them to include women?

their pros and cons.

(c) How do you assess possible reaction in the New

Territories. We would imagine that it would make little

difference in the eyes of the villages whether a change in

policy was deliberately initiated by the Hong Kong Government or

arose from a legal decision subsequent to your accession to

CEDAW. We assume we could not rule out New Territories'

villages appealing directly to the Chinese if they felt their rights were being infringed in contravention of the Joint

Declaration.

Grateful for your views in due course."

4 Janaury 1990

CC:

Mr Rankin, Legal Advisers

Mr Edwards, Legal Advisers

Mrs Britton, UND

MUKAFN

Atil you

P Major (Ms)

Hong Kong Department