TNAG-2326-FCO40-3370-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-policy-1991 — Page 22

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FRANCHISES STRADDLING 1997 SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH CHINA WAS ALSO

PLAYED UP BY THE PAPERS.

6.

RTHK AND MANY PAPERS REPORTED THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD MEET THE PRIME MINISTER (25.6) FOR AN UNUSUALLY LONG MEETING OF ONE HOUR AND A

HALF TO DISCUSS THE AIRPORT AND FUTURE RELATIONS WITH CHINA. THE

SESSION WOULD ALSO BE ATTENDED BY THE FOREIGN SECRETARY AND LORD CAITHNESS.

BILL OF RIGHTS

7. A DELEGATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS (ICJ)

ARRIVED HERE ON 19 JUNE FOR A CONFERENCE ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS. SOME PAPERS NOTED THAT A PROF OF LAW GONG XIANGRUI OF THE PEKING UNIVERSITY FAILED TO TURN UP AT THE CONFERENCE AS A RESULT OF PRESSURE FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, IN A SUBMISSION TO THE CONFERENCE PROF GONG ARGUED THAT HK'S BILL OF RIGHTS WAS COMPATIBLE

WITH THE BASIC LAW DESPITE CHINA'S OFFICIAL OPPOSITION TO THE

LEGISLATION.

8.

BRITISH LAWYER ANTHONY LESTER SAID THAT CHINA WAS OBLIGED TO ALLOW THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS TO BE APPLIED TO HK AND TO REPORT ON HK'S HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE AFTER 1997. A FELLOW AT THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY'S LAW FACULTY, PETER BAILEY, CALLED FOR THE SETTING UP OF A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. THE LEADER OF THE ICJ DELEGATION, SIR WILLIAM GOODHART, TOLD NEWSMEN 925.6) THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER THE JD AND THE B.L. WOULD PROVIDE ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN HK AFTER 1997.

NATIONALITY

9.

REPRESENTATIVES OF BRITISH-HK FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981 CALLED ON OMELCO MEMBERS TO PRESS THE HOME

OFFICE TO GRANT FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO ALL THEIR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18, (20.6).

10.

THE GOVERNMENT HAD RELEASED THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED

FOR EACH CATEGORY UNDER THE FIRST PHASE OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME. AMONG THE MOST COMPETITIVE OCCUPATIONS WERE TRANSLATORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, LEGAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS.

11.

THE GOVERNMENTS OF ST KITTS AND NEVIS IN THE WEST INDIES HAD

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