TNAG-2512-FCO40-3665-Future-of-Hong-Kong-International-Rights-and-Obligations-(IR-1992 — Page 115

CONFIDENTIAL

Convention on the Political Rights

of Women, New York_1952

0

Item 8.5

put with

folio 56

("the

General

The Convention on the Political Rights of Women Convention") was adopted by the United Nations Assembly on 20 December 1952 and entered into force on 7 July 1954 (text at Annex A). The United Kingdom (UK) acceded to the Convention on 24 February 1967 and included Hong Kong in

its accession (reference at Annex B). Under and V, the Convention is open for accession to

Articles IV

•

all States Members

State to which

Geneva Assembly.

an

of the United Nations and to any other invitation has been addressed by the

2.

accession.

The

UK

The

made

a number of reservations upon text of those which apply to Hong Kong is

30

June

at Annex C. The reservations in paragraph (1) (a) - (d) are required before

1997 but will clearly be inapplicable after that date. The reservation at (1) (g) is, in practice, obsolete and is no longer relied upon. Subject to the views of the Chinese side, the British side does not, therefore, propose that these reservations be continued after 30 June 1997.

3.

The Convention provides that women are entitled to vote in all elections and eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies, established by national law on equal terms with men, without any discrimination (Articles I and II).

It also provides that women are entitled to hold public office and to exercise all public functions, established by national law, on equal terms with men, without any discrimination (Article III)

CONFIDENTIAL