residence, the use of English as an official language of the and the persistence of the laws previously in force.
In chapter 3 of the Basic Law, China promised that the The whole world fundamental rights would remain in force.
knows China's promise. In Hong Kong, a great metropolis and
economic centre, with 150 years of
world
-
contact with a wider
and with people scattered around that world having links with their families here it is scarcely likely that
-
departures from China's promises could be kept secret;
on
Fourthly, the United
the United Kingdom is obliged to report to
the United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva
Covenant on compliance in Hong Kong with the International
China is not a party to that
During the conference it was
Civil and Political Rights.
Covenant and does not report. suggested that China would succeed to the United Kingdom's obligations of reportage. It would be obliged to do so by reason of the international treaty with the United Kingdom which is deposited with the United Nations. refusal to report, despite the clear promise of the Joint Declaration and the terms of the Basic Law, would attract
world-wide condemnation.
A
The obligation to report provides a
window for those in the wider world who are anxious about the
continuance of basic human rights and the rule of law in Hong
Kong;
Fifthly, there is the point that excessive confidence should not be placed in the Joint Declaration, Basic Law or
or in Bill of Rights Ordinance such, whether alone
as
combination. Basic rights are not confined to constitutional
documents such as these.
They are found in the nooks and
crannies of
of the
common law itself.
In the daily work of
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