TNAG-2512-FCO40-3665-Future-of-Hong-Kong-International-Rights-and-Obligations-(IR-1992 — Page 91

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19 October 1992

BY FAX

Mr R Hoare

PS/Governor

Government House

HONG KONG

Dear Richard,

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TRECEIVE:

pra humm nights

STRY

26 OCT 1992

REGISTRY

DIEU E

Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

62

London SWIA 2AH

Telephone: 071-270-3287

LETTER FROM MR ANDREW BYRNES

1. We received today a letter to the Secretary of State dated 4 October from Mr Andrew Byrnes, Lecturer in Law at the University of Hong Kong. Mr Byrnes is concerned about the extension to Hong Kong of a number of human rights treaties and conventions.

2.

3.

Mr Byrnes' main questions are as follows:

i) Why has the UN Convention Against Torture not been

extended to Hong Kong?

ii) Has the latest ICESCR Report on Hong Kong been

submitted to the UN; if not, when will it be submitted; and will it be publicly available?

iii) Will the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women be extended to Hong Kong, and if not why not?

iv) How will Hong Kong law and practice be changed to

conform with the obligations of HKG under the ICCPR?

I attach the letter, which includes much detailed argument in support of the above questions. I would be grateful for your advice on suitable lines to take in our reply to Mr Byrnes. I realise these are complicated issues but a response as soon as possible would be greatly appreciated.

Yous ever Чал

J N Marshall

Jonathon Marshall

Hong Kong Department

cc+encs Miss Brooks, Legal Advisers

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