TNAG-2156-FCO40-3076-International-Covenant-on-Civil-and-Political-Rights-(ICCPR)-1990 — Page 115

22.

During the meeting of the Human Rights Committee to discuss the second report, the question of publicity for the Covenants emerged as a matter of particular concern to the Committee. In response to the concern expressed, the Hong Kong section of the second report was tabled in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong immediately after the meeting, and placed in public libraries for the information of members of the public. The Hong Kong Administration also made plans for further action on publicity. The first phase was the publication and distribution to schools and public libraries of copies of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in English and Chinese, and of fact sheets containing information on human rights based on United Nations materials. This work was completed at the end of June 1989.

23. A Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education was set up in May 1986 to promote awareness of the structure of government and constitutional matters in Hong Kong, and to enhance the public's concern with and involvement in community affairs. The Committee's work is aimed, inter alia, at enabling the public to understand and uphold civic rights and responsibilities as well as the concept of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and social justice. The Administration plans to co-operate with the Committee on a publicity programme, including distribution of publicity materials on the two Covenants as well as seminars and exhibitions.

24.

A Committee on Promoting Legal Awareness has also been formed by the Law Society together with representatives of the Bar Association and other lawyers. The Hong Kong Administration will be making suggestions to the Committee on ways to raise the public's awareness of their civil rights and the contents of the Covenants.

25.

In this context, it is noted that some concern has been expressed about the effect of Education Regulation 92 which relates to the syllabus and timetable of schools and the use of documents by schools. The regulation provides that no instruction may be given by any school except in accordance with a syllabus approved by the Director of Education. This provision does not in fact restrict the teaching of civic education in schools, nor prevent discussion in schools of the two International Covenants. Nevertheless, action is in hand to amend this and other education regulations, in order to clear up the misapprehension that they could inhibit civic education. exercise is expected to be completed within the next few months.

This

26.

The Hong Kong Administration in consultation with the British Government has been considering the application to Hong Kong of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. As part of this consideration, existing policies and legislation relevant to the question of equality between the sexes are being reviewed.

27. A draft bill was passed by the Legislative Council in July 1989 which, inter alia, altered the basis of taxing the salaries of married couples from aggregation to separate taxation. The new system will come into operation as from 1 April 1990. By means of this bill, Hong Kong taxation legislation will better comply with the spirit of the Human Rights Covenants.