TNAG-2895-FCO40-4169-Correspondence-with-Michael-Kirby--Chairman-of-the-Internati-1993 — Page 22

UNCLASSIFIED

FM CANBERRA

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 305

OF 180545Z JUNE 93

UNCLASSIFIED

HKCC 373/1

RECEIV

CISTRY

2? J. 1993

DESK INDEX

INFO ROUTINE PEKING, HONG KONG, ACTOR

167562

MDLIAN 9938

FISTRY von Taken

Altera.

ра

HONG KONG: HUMAN RIGHTS: INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS (ICJ)

SUMMARY

ICJ CHAIRMAN SEEKS REASSURANCE THAT HBMG WILL SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORM IN HONG KONG IN THE BILATERAL TALKS WITH CHINA.

DETAIL

2. I HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE HON JUSTICE MICHAEL KIRBY (SUPREME COURT, SYDNEY), CHAIRMAN OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS, COVERING A SEPARATE LETTER TO SIR ROBIN MCLAREN. FULL TEXTS BY FAX TO HKD, DPA HONG KONG AND PEKING. HE ASKED THAT HIS VIEWS BE CONVEYED TO YOU AND HBMG.

3.

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

MAIN POINTS IN JUSTICE KIRBY'S LETTER TO SIR ROBIN ARE:

THE COMMISSION RECENTLY CONDUCTED A MISSION TO HONG KONG (LED BY SIR WILLIAM GOODHART QC).

IT WAS CONCERNED AT HBMG'S FAILURE TO CONFORM TO INTERNATIONAL LAW IN THE PROVISION TO HONG KONG PEOPLE OF RIGHTS WHICH DEVOLVE BY INTERNATIONAL LAW UPON PEOPLE IN RESPECT TO TERMINATION OF COLONIAL STATUS, AND ASSURANCE OF THEIR RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION OF THEIR POLITICAL FUTURE.

STEPS TAKEN BY GOVERNOR, ALTHOUGH FAR FROM PERFECT'', ARE IN HARMONY WITH THE BASIC THRUST OF THE MISSION'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. THOSE STEPS ARE ESSENTIAL AS A BARE MINIMUM TO PRESERVE RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW, DEFENCE OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AND INDEPENDENCE ON JUDICIARY AND LAWYERS.

CONCERNED TO READ IN THE (LONDON) TIMES OF 1 JUNE A REPORT THAT HBMG WILL NOT (NOT) SUPPORT IN TALKS WITH THE PRC THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS FOR WIDER REPRESENTATION OF ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF HONG KONG PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: WOULD WELCOME ASSURANCE THAT THE REPORT IS FALSE AND THAT HBMG

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