TNAG-2922-FCO40-4197-Visits-and-proposed-visits-by-Alastair-Goodlad--Minister-of--1993 — Page 65

HUMAN RIGHTS

Will a mechanism be put in place to ensure continued application of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) after 1997?

We appreciate members' concern over this. Mr Frederick Fung raised the same point during his recent meeting with the Secretary of State in London, and Mr Hurd told him that we recognised our responsibility to do our best to meet that

concern.

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The Joint Declaration guarantees that the provisions of the ICCPR as applied to Hong Kong will remain in force after 1997. Responsibility for making the necessary practical arrangements lies with the JLG. This is an ongoing process.

We continue to urge China to become a party to thé ICCPR.

Extension to Hong Kong of the UN Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.

Decisions on an issue like this fall squarely within the

autonomy of Hong Kong to determine its own social policy.

Britain would certainly be ready to take the necessary steps to extend this Convention to Hong Kong if the Hong Kong Government were to ask us to do so.

AIRPORT

[Dependant on state of public knowledge of third financing

package.]

checklist.PR.JRB