TNAG-2173-FCO40-3110-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-1990 — Page 42

Article 20-Rights in respect of marriage and family

43. Men and women have the right to marry and found a family. Forced marriages are prohibited. The parties to a marriage have equal status during marriage and at the time of any divorce. If there is a divorce any children must be protected.

Article 21----Rights of children

44. Every child has the right to be protected, regardless of the child's race colour, language, religion or national or social status. Each child must have a name and be registered immediately after birth.

Article 22-Right to participate in public life

45. Every person with the right of abode in Hong Kong may without any of the distinctions mentioned in Article I, and without unreasonable restrictions:

(a) participate in public affairs himself or through freely chosen repro-

sentatives;

(b) vote and be elected at regular elections at which every person must be

able to vote secretly and with an equal voice; and

(c) have access, on géneral terms of equality, to public service in Hong

Kong.

Article 23-Equality before and equal protection of law

46. The law must deal with everyone equally and cannot treat one person differently from another because of the person's race, colour, sex, language, religion, opinion, national or social status, property, birth or any other status.

Article 24 --Rights of minorities

47. Members of ethnic, religious or linguistic minority groups are guaranteed the right together to enjoy their culture, practice their religion and use their language.

10

Reservations

Clause 9

PART III

48. Prisoners and armed forces personnel may be subjected to disciplinary procedures that may not necessarily be consistent with the rights and freedoms in the Bill of Rights,

Clause 10

49. While Article 6 of the Bill of Rights requires adults and juvenile prisoners to be segagated, this need not be done if mixing them is regarded as being beneficial or if there are not enough facilities for them to be separated.

Clause 11

50. The Government reserves the right to continue to apply such immigration legislation governing entry into, stay in, and departure from Hong Kong as it may deem necessary from time to lime.

Clause 12

51. Persons who do not have the right of abode in Hong Kong do not, despite Article 9, have the right to appeal against their deportation.

Clause 13

52. While Article 17 prohibits propaganda for war or advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred, Clause 13 makes it clear that no new laws are needed in respect of this Article.

Clause 14

53. While Article 22 guarantees the right to participate in elections, Clause 14 makes it clear that neither the Executive Council nor the Legislative Council need be elected bodies.