TNAG-2321-FCO40-3365-Human-rights-in-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 303

CAT/GR.91

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he has been sentenced under normal criminal procedure, as had sometimes happened in the United States of America.

72-

The CHAIRMAN informed the Committee that a supplementary report describing the position in the United Kingdom's dependent territories would be submitted at a later date.

The meeting was suspended at 12 p.m. and resumed at 12 15 p.m.

Initial report of Belize (CAT/C/5/Add.25)

73. The CHAIRMAN said that, although Belize had submitted an admittedly succinct report and had been invited to send a delegation to present the report to the Committee, no delegation was present in Geneva. Because of the country's size, it was possible that it might not be able to send a delegation. In his view, however, the report should not be considered until Belize had been informed that the Committee preferred not to examine a report in the absence of a delegation. He suggested that consideration of the report of Belize should be postponed until the Committee's next session, to which the Government of Belize should be invited to send a delegation, and that it should be informed that the report would be examined at that session even if a delegation was not present.

14.

Mr. PERLAS (Country Rapporteur), supported by Mr. BURNS (Alternate Country Rapporteur), said that he agreed with the Chairman's suggestion.

75.

Mr. GIL LAVEDRA said that he also agreed with the Chairman's suggestion, but considered that, because the report was so brief, it was not in keeping with the Committee's guidelines. He suggested that the Committee should take the present opportunity to send Belize a copy of the Committee's general guidelines regarding the form and contents of initial reports, together with a number of sample reports. Belize could thus be invited to submit an additional report which would enable the Committee to consider the situation in Belize properly at its next session.

76.

Mr. SORENSEN said that he endorsed Mr. Gil Lavedra's suggestion and drew

In attention to the fact that the report of Belize was described as "A Note". its letter to Belize, the Committee might say that it had placed Belize's note on record, and looked forward to receiving an additional report before its next session.

77. Mr, MIKHAILOV suggested that the country rapporteur and the alternate country rapporteur should send Belize a list of questions based on the report before the Committee in order to make it easier for Belize to prepare the additional report.

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78.

The CHAIRMAN said that that suggestion might not be practical because the report was so brief. It would be preferable for the Committee simply to send Belize a copy of its guidelines, together with a number of sample reports.

79.

It was so decided.

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The meeting rose at 12.25 p.m..