TNAG-2921-FCO40-4196-Visits-and-proposed-visits-by-Alastair-Goodlad--Minister-of--1993 — Page 54

3.

HUMAN RIGHTS

HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997

The Hong Kong Bill of Rights gives effect in local law to the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as applied to Hong Kong. A body of local human rights jurisprudence is steadily accumulating.

The Joint Declaration provides that the ICCPR will continue to apply to Hong Kong after 1997. The Joint Declaration also guarantees the continuation of Hong Kong's existing legal system.

[If pressed]

We continue to urge China to become a party to the Covenant. It if has not done so before July 1997, we will need to consider with China how the Covenant will be enforced in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

supp.3.12.BB.JRB

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