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treatment will not be discriminatory. In this context we
have noted the arguments that customary law helps preserve
a traditional way of life and is essential in order to
maintain the cultural life and moral values of the NT
villages. However, there can be no question of excluding
indigenous villagers in the NT from the application of the
fail to be a full
Bill as this would clearly
implementation of the ICCPR.
25.
Secondly, we do not recommend any exemption to
enforcement agencies. This issue has
the ICAC and law
attracted intense
discussion during the consultation
period. I note that the LegCo Ad Hoc Group in its report
makes it abundantly clear that it does not support any
exemption to any group or agency from the Bill of Rights.
We all recognise that there is a need to strike a balance
between protection of individual rights and the effective
maintenance of law and order. I believe, Sir, this is one
of the issues we have to examine with the utmost care
during the proposed freeze period. I am however confident
that ways can be found to ensure, on the one hand, that
the ICAC, and Police and the like agencies will continue
to operate at a high standard of effectiveness, and on the
other, that the ordinances in question will be consistent
with the Bill of Rights. Indeed there are a number of
countries whose law enforcement agencies have to operate
within constitutional guarantees for basic human rights
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