TNAG-2862-FCO40-4116-Article-XIX-(lobby-group-for-press-freedom)-and-Hong-Kong-Jo-1993 — Page 58

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RECEIVED IN P ́ ́ ́STRY

MAI, 1993

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Adion Taken

9 March 1993

Ms Frances D'Souza Director Article XIX

90 Borough Hill Street London

SE1 1LL

Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

14

London SWIA 2AH

From The Minister of State

M Bunker

Q

Deer das D'Suza

१

Thank you for your letter of 25 February about your concern over human rights in Hong Kong.

I note your further comment on the Basic Law. Whatever the view one takes of this, the fact remains that it is a Chinese law, and that the Chinese authorities have said that it cannot be changed. As a signatory to the Joint Declaration, we have a role in seeing that the Basic Law is implemented in a way which is not inconsistent with it. We intend to do all we can to achieve that.

We will have to differ on whether existing Hong Kong legislation sufficiently protects human rights. For example the report of the International Commission of Jurists' Mission to Hong Kong concluded that the Bill of Rights, which introduced into Hong Kong law the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

" provides a clear legal basis for the protection of human rights in Hong Kong".

I understand that the Hong Kong Government's review of its press Laws is likely to be concluded soon. The Hong

Kong Government intends to make a public Statement announcing the findings of the review shortly

thereafter.

The Hind Гал

ALASTAIR GOODLAD

ん