TNAG-2322-FCO40-3366-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-amendment-to-Letters-Patent-1991 — Page 11

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Bar: Letto patest

THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1991

HKC241/3

7:0

AMENDMENT TO EK LETTERS PATENT

THE HONG KONG LETTERS PATENT WILL BE AMENDED BY ADDING A NEW PARAGRAPH PROVIDING THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS (ICCPR) AS APPLIED TO HONG KONG SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE LAWS OF HONG KONG.

V11 OF THE COMING ΙΝΤΟ

THE NEW PARAGRAPH, WHICH WILL BE ADDED TO ARTICLE PRINCIPAL LETTERS PATENT, ALSO PROVIDES THAT AFTER THE OPERATION OF THE AMENDMENT, NO LAW OF HONG KONG SHALL BE MADE UNDER WHICH THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS ENJOYED IN HONG KONG WILL BE IN A MANNER INCONSISTENT WITH THE ICCPR AS APPLIED TO HONG KONG.

RESTRICTED

ANNOUNCING THIS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE HONG KONG LETTERS PATENT 1991 (NO. 20 WHICH HAD RECENTLY DEEN APPROVED WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TOMORROW.

"THE AMENDMENT WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON SATURDAY (JUNE 8), THE SAME DAY THAT THE HONG KONG BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE COMES INTO EFFECT," HE SAID.

"THE BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE WILL, SUBJECT TO A FREEZE ON SIX ORDINANCES FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR WHICH MAY BE EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER YEAR BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, STRIKE DOWN ANY LEGISLATION ENACTED BEFORE ITS COMMENCEMENT WHICH IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE ICCPR AS APPLIED TO HONG KONG, WHILE THE AMENDED LETTERS PATENT WILL PREVENT ANY SUCH LEGISLATION FROM BEING VALIDLY ENACTED ON OR AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT DATE OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE, THE SPOKESNAN EXPLAINED.

HE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION AMENDMENT TO THE LETTERS PATENT WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE ON JULY 25, 1990 WHEN. INTRODUCING THE HONG KONG BILL 1990 INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE AMENDMENT REFLECTED A SIMILAR PROVISION IN THE BASIC LAW, HE ADDED,

IT

OF SEEKING THE CHIEF SECRETARY OF RIGHTS BILL

ARTICLE 39 OF

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