CONFIDENTIAL
Telout
BAR
NKD241
Pm
19/10
17 OCT 1990
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 17090OZ FCO
TELNO 3039
OF 170644Z OCTOBER 90
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
(338
146156
MDHIAN 4464
TOP COPY Q DIST?
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE (UNHRC)
1. FOLLOWING JLG XVI, MR P J DYKES, ASSISTANT SOLICITOR GENERAL, VISITED THE UN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN GENEVA. THE VISIT
WAS USEFUL AND WE ARE NOW PROPOSING THAT MR DYKES AND MR DARWIN CHEN, DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, SHOULD RETURN TO GENEVA LATER THIS MONTH TO BE PRESENT DURING PART OF THE
MEETING OF THE UNHRC WHICH IS TO TAKE PLACE FROM 22 OCTOBER TO 9
NOVEMBER. MR DYKES IS MAKING THE ARRANGEMENTS DIRECT WITH UKMIS GENEVA BY TELEPHONE.
2. THE VISIT WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MESSRS DYKES AND
CHEN TO MEET UNHRC MEMBERS AND TO EXPLAIN CHINESE SENSITIVITIES
REGARDING THE BILL OF RIGHTS (BOR) AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE BASIC LAW.
3. THE UNHRC AND OURSELVES SHARE A COMMON INTEREST IN THE BOR SURVIVING 1997 AND DISCUSSION WITH UNHRC MEMBERS AT THIS STAGE SHOULD HOPEFULLY ENSURE THAT THE ISSUE IS SENSITIVELY HANDLED WHEN THE UNHRC CONSIDERS THE REPORT ON HONG KONG IN PUBLIC
SESSION IN MARCH NEXT YEAR. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO DISCUSS THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE UN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS COULD PROVIDE OR CO-ORDINATE ADVISORY SERVICES FOR OUR JUDGES, LAWYERS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS.
4. WE PROPOSE THAT MESSRS DYKES AND CHEN SHOULD BE IN GENEVA FOR WEEK COMMENCING 22 OCTOBER. THEY WOULD PROBABLY LEAVE THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND I.E. ON OR ABOUT 27 OCTOBER. WE FURTHER PROPOSE THAT DARWIN CHEN SHOULD RETURN TO HONG KONG VIA LONDON, STOPPING OFF FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH ALAN PAUL, PAM MAJOR AND JILL BARRETT ON 29 AND 30 OCTOBER, IF THIS IS CONVENIENT.
5. GRATEFUL FOR YOU REPLY DESKBY 18090OZ, SO THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE PUT IN HAND.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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