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ÐÌÌà@0“àCONTENTSˆÐ ã+$ ÐÌÌCONSIDERATION€OF€REPORTS€SUBMITTED€BY€STATES€PARTIES€UNDER€ARTICLE€40€OF€THEÐ ,t' ÐCOVENANT€(òòcontinuedóó)Ð ï7( ÐÌà0 b àFOURTH€PERIODIC€REPORT€OF€THE€UNITED€KINGDOM€OF€GREAT€BRITAIN€ANDÐ u½* ÐNORTHERN€IRELAND:€€SUPPLEMENTARY€REPORT€ON€THE€DEPENDENT€TERRITORIES:€Ð 8€ + ÐHONG€KONG€(òòcontinuedóó)ÐûC!,bü#bü# ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌß?€$'Ú%sdE+Ú%s?ßà b àThis€record€is€subject€to€correction.Ð &['4 ÐÌà b àCorrections€should€be€submitted€in€one€of€the€working€languages.€€TheyÐ ™'á(6 Ðshould€be€set€forth€in€a€memorandum€and€also€incorporated€in€a€copy€of€theÐ \(¤)7 Ðrecord.€€They€should€be€sent€òòwithin€one€week€of€the€date€of€this€documentóó€toÐ )g*8 Ðthe€Official€Records€Editing€Section,€room€E.4108,€Ô_ÔPalaisÔ_Ô€des€Nations,€Geneva.Ð â)*+9 ÐÌà b àAny€corrections€to€the€records€of€the€public€meetings€of€the€Committee€atÐ h+°,; Ðthis€session€will€be€consolidated€in€a€single€corrigendum,€to€be€issuedÐ +,s-< Ðshortly€after€the€end€of€the€session.Ð î,6.= ÐÌGE.95„19112€€(E)Ð t.¼/? ÐÐ  7/0@ ÐÔ_ÔÖ€ÿÿÖÖ€ÿÿÖÓB.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!++7BÓÑØRÑÑ}‰Ñà@û û “àòòThe€meeting€was€called€to€order€at€3.05€p.móó.ˆÐ É ÐÌCONSIDERATION€OF€REPORTS€SUBMITTED€BY€STATES€PARTIES€UNDER€ARTICLE40€OF€THEÐ O† ÐCOVENANT€(agenda€item4)€(òòcontinuedóó)Ð I ÐÌFOURTH€PERIODIC€REPORT€OF€THE€UNITED€KINGDOM€OF€GREAT€BRITAIN€ANDÐ ˜Ï ÐNORTHERNIRELAND:€€SUPPLEMENTARY€REPORT€ON€THE€DEPENDENT€TERRITORIES:€Ð [ ’ ÐHONGKONG€(òòcontinuedóó)€(CCPR/C/95/Add.5;€M/CCPR/C/55/LST/HKG/3)Ð  U ÐÌ1.ÓB.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!++7BÓà b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€invited€members€of€the€Committee€to€address€additionalÐ ¤ Û  Ðquestions€to€the€delegation€of€the€United€Kingdom€in€connection€with€sectionIÐ g ž  Ðof€the€list€of€issues€(M/CCPR/C/55/LST/HKG/3).Ð * a  ÐÌ2.à b àòòMr.€PRADO€VALLEJOóó€expressed€great€satisfaction€at€the€efforts€being€madeÐ °ç  Ðby€the€United€Kingdom,€together€with€the€Government€of€China,€to€ensure€thatÐ sª  Ðthe€Covenant€continued€to€remain€in€force€in€Hong€Kong€after€July1997.€€ItÐ 6m  Ðwas€to€be€hoped€that€the€UnitedKingdom€would€do€everything€in€its€power€toÐ ù0  Ðprevent€the€Covenant€becoming€a€dead€letter€after€the€territory€reverted€toÐ ¼ó  Ðthe€People's€Republic€of€China.Ð ¶  ÐÌ3.à b àNoting€that€the€Hong€Kong€population€had€at€no€time€been€consultedÐ < Ðdirectly€about€its€future,€he€remarked€that€the€situation€today€might€be€veryÐ Èÿ Ðdifferent€if€a€self-determination€exercise€had€been€conducted€in€accordanceÐ ‹Â Ðwith€article1€of€the€Covenant.€€Now€that€so€little€time€was€left€before€theÐ N… Ðtransfer€of€power,€holding€such€a€consultation€would€not,€of€course,€beÐ H Ðpracticable.€€That€was€a€matter€for€regret.Ð Ô  ÐÌ4.à b àRights€under€the€Covenant€were€rights€of€the€inhabitants€of€Hong€Kong,Ð Z‘ Ðnot€those€of€States€or€other€political€entities.€€Human€rights€covenants€wereÐ T Ðin€a€different€category€from€other€treaties€in€that,€having€once€entered€intoÐ à Ðforce,€they€could€not€be€extinguished€unilaterally€by€a€new€Administration.€Ð £Ú ÐThe€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€did€not€contain€aÐ f Ðdenunciation€clause€and€could€not€cease€to€exist€under€any€circumstances.€€HeÐ )`  Ðwished€to€emphasize€that€point€not€only€in€order€to€encourage€theÐ ì#! ÐUnitedKingdom€to€make€every€effort€to€implement€human€rights€untilÐ ¯æ" Ð1July1997,€but€also€so€that€the€other€party€might€clearly€understand€theÐ r©# Ðinternational€community's€views€on€the€matter.Ð 5 l$ ÐÌ5.à b àHuman€rights€problems€were€not€domestic€issues;€they€were€of€concern€toÐ »!ò& Ðthe€international€community€at€large.€€The€Chinese€Government's€position€thatÐ ~"µ' Ðlaws€in€force€in€Hong€Kong€would€be€abolished€if€they€were€incompatible€withÐ A#x( Ðthe€Chinese€Constitution€was€therefore€disquieting,€as€was€China's€declarationÐ $;) Ðthat€it€did€not€consider€itself€bound€by€the€obligation€to€report€to€theÐ Ç$þ* ÐCommittee€under€article40€of€the€Covenant.€€Noting€that€no€specific€agreementÐ Š%Á + Ðhad€been€reached€between€the€UnitedKingdom€and€China€on€the€latter€problem,Ð M&„!, Ðhe€wondered€whether€the€UnitedKingdom€could€not,€by€effective€diplomacy€andÐ 'G"- Ðdialogue,€endeavour€to€convince€the€other€party€of€the€need€to€report€to€theÐ Ó' #. ÐCommittee€at€least€on€the€territory€of€HongKong.Ð –(Í#/ ÐÌ6.à b àThe€Hong€Kong€Government's€decision€not€to€establish€a€human€rightsÐ *S%1 Ðcommission,€reported€in€paragraph10€of€the€report€(CCPR/C/95/Add.5),€and,Ð ß*&2 Ðâ âinstead,€to€expand€its€human€rights€education€programmes€was€somewhatÐ ¢+Ù&3 ÐÔ& I Ôâ ââ âdisturbing.€€Such€programmes,€important€as€they€were,€could€not€be€expected€toÐ É Ðproduce€immediate€results.€€A€clarification€of€the€reasons€for€the€failure€toÐ ŒÃ Ðâ âÔ'IÉýÔinstitute€a€human€rights€commission€would€be€welcome.Ð O† ÐÌ7.à b àAnother€point€that€needed€elucidation€was€the€legal€status€of€theÐ Õ  ÐCovenant€in€Chinese€legislation.€€Would€the€Covenant€take€precedence€overÐ ˜Ï Ðlocal€laws€or€would€it,€on€the€contrary,€be€secondary€to€them?€€The€JointÐ [ ’ ÐDeclaration€said€nothing€on€that€important€point.€€Could€the€United€KingdomÐ  U Ðtake€any€action€to€prevent€the€Covenant€being€rendered€ineffective€by€theÐ á  Ðenactment€of€new€Chinese€legislation?€€The€question€of€effective€remedies€andÐ ¤ Û  Ðappropriate€mechanisms€available€to€the€population€of€Hong€Kong€to€ensure€thatÐ g ž  Ðthe€enjoyment€of€rights€under€the€Covenant€did€not€remain€a€dead€letter€alsoÐ * a  Ðrequired€clarification.Ð í $  ÐÌ8.à b àArticle23€of€the€Basic€Law€referred€to€political€organizations€or€bodiesÐ sª  Ðof€the€region€being€prohibited€from€establishing€ties€with€foreign€politicalÐ 6m  Ðorganizations€or€bodies.€€The€provision€was€disturbing,€since€itsÐ ù0  Ðimplementation€would€seriously€interfere€with€the€activities€of€HongKong'sÐ ¼ó  Ðnon-governmental€organizations.Ð ¶  ÐÌ9.à b àIn€conclusion,€he€wondered€whether€there€was€any€possibility€of€theÐ < ÐUnitedKingdom€withdrawing€its€reservations€on€the€Covenant,€if€only€withÐ Èÿ Ðregard€to€the€territory€of€Hong€Kong,€and€expressed€strong€regret€at€theÐ ‹Â ÐUnitedKingdom's€failure€to€accede€to€the€Optional€Protocol,€as€a€result€ofÐ N… Ðwhich€the€people€of€Hong€Kong€were€deprived€of€the€possibility€of€addressingÐ H Ðthemselves€directly€to€the€Committee€in€the€event€of€human€rights€violations.Ð Ô  ÐÌ10.à b àòòMr.€KRETZMERóó€associated€himself€with€most€of€the€comments€and€concerns€ofÐ Z‘ Ðprevious€speakers€in€connection€with€the€continued€implementation€of€theÐ T ÐCovenant€in€Hong€Kong.€€He€wished€to€address€a€point€which€had€not€beenÐ à Ðtouched€upon€previously,€namely,€the€position€of€especially€vulnerable€groupsÐ £Ú Ðof€persons€employed€by€the€present€authorities€in€activities€regarded€asÐ f Ðunfriendly€by€China,€such€as,€for€example,€employees€of€the€Special€Branch.€Ð )`  ÐWhat€was€the€UnitedKingdom€Government's€policy€with€regard€to€such€persons€orÐ ì#! Ðgroups,€whose€human€rights€might€well€come€under€threat€after€the€transfer€ofÐ ¯æ" Ðsovereignty?Ð r©# ÐÌ11.à b àThe€question€of€judicial€review€of€legislation€required€clarification.€Ð ø /% ÐIt€was€not€clear€whether€courts€in€Hong€Kong€had€power€of€judicial€review€withÐ »!ò& Ðregard€to€laws€passed€after€the€Bill€of€Rights€Ordinance€(BORO)€on€the€groundsÐ ~"µ' Ðof€inconsistency€with€the€Letters€Patent.€€Problems€in€that€connection€couldÐ A#x( Ðarise€when€the€Letters€Patent€lost€their€validity€after€1July1997.€€RelianceÐ $;) Ðwould€then€have€to€be€placed€on€article39€of€the€Basic€Law,€but€it€was€notÐ Ç$þ* Ðclear€whether€the€provisions€of€that€article€would€allow€for€proper€judicialÐ Š%Á + Ðreview.€€Under€article158€of€the€Basic€Law,€the€power€of€interpretation€ofÐ M&„!, Ðthat€Law€would€be€vested€in€the€Standing€Committee€of€the€National€People'sÐ 'G"- ÐCongress;€it€was€not€clear€what€would€happen€in€the€event€of€a€conflict€ofÐ Ó' #. Ðviews€between€the€courts,€on€the€one€hand,€and€the€Standing€Committee€of€theÐ –(Í#/ ÐNational€People's€Congress,€on€the€other.Ð Y)$0 ÐÌÔ&   Ô12.à b àAnother€issue€of€concern€was€the€future€implementation€of€the€CovenantÐ ß*&2 Ðshould€the€Basic€Law€and€in€particular€its€article39,€be€amended€at€some€timeÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðin€the€future.€€Could€some€way€be€found€of€giving€the€Covenant€an€independentÐ e,œ'4 ÐÔ' ß* 0Ôstatus€before€July€1997?Ð (-_(5 Ї13.à b àTurning€to€the€question€of€discrimination€on€grounds€of€sex,€heÐ É Ðassociated€himself€with€the€questions€already€asked€by€Ms.MedinaQuiroga€and,Ð ŒÃ Ðreferring€to€paragraph354€of€the€report,€asked€why€the€Hong€Kong€GovernmentÐ O† Ðseemed€reluctant€to€implement€all€the€Covenant's€provisions€in€that€respect.€Ð I ÐHad€any€timetable€been€drawn€up€for€introducing€all€relevant€legislationÐ Õ  Ðduring€the€remaining€600€days€of€UnitedKingdom€sovereignty?€€Ð ˜Ï ÐÌ14.à b àA€specific€issue€relating€to€the€status€of€women€was€that€of€instructionsÐ  U Ðto€juries€by€judges€in€cases€of€rape.€€It€would€be€useful€to€know€when€theÐ á  ÐHong€Kong€Government€intended€to€introduce€legislation€abolishing€theÐ ¤ Û  Ðrequirement€of€corroboration€in€all€such€cases.€€Noting€that€marital€rape€wasÐ g ž  Ðnot€at€present€a€crime€in€the€territory,€he€asked€whether€there€was€anyÐ * a  Ðintention€to€introduce€legislation,€as€in€most€other€jurisdictions,€makingÐ í $  Ðrape€a€crime€even€within€marriage.€€Lastly,€he€noted€that€there€appeared€to€beÐ °ç  Ðsome€reluctance€on€the€part€of€the€authorities€to€investigate€cases€ofÐ sª  Ðdomestic€violence,€and€asked€for€a€clarification€of€policy€in€that€respect.Ð 6m  ÐÌ15.à b àòòMr.€LALLAHóó€welcomed€the€various€juridical€steps€being€taken€by€theÐ ¼ó  ÐUnitedKingdom,€by€agreement€with€the€new€sovereign€Power,€to€ensure€that€theÐ ¶  ÐCovenant€remained€in€force€in€HongKong€after€July€1997,€and€particularlyÐ By Ðappreciated€Mr.Steel's€forthright€statement€that€article40€of€the€CovenantÐ < Ðmust€continue€to€live.€€He€was,€however,€a€little€uncertain€as€to€whatÐ Èÿ Ðpractical€steps€were€being€taken€to€familiarize€the€Chinese€Government€withÐ ‹Â Ðits€obligations€and€the€best€way€of€performing€them.€€In€that€connection,€itÐ N… Ðmight€have€been€useful€to€invite€the€Chinese€Government€to€delegate€anÐ H Ðobserver€to€attend€the€present€session€during€the€consideration€of€the€reportÐ Ô  Ðon€Hong€Kong.Ð —Î ÐÌ16.à b àSo€far€as€obligations€under€article40€were€concerned,€the€Government€ofÐ T ÐChina€had€two€options.€€It€could€either€submit€the€reports€on€Hong€Kong€itselfÐ à Ðor€it€could€authorize€the€Government€of€the€Hong€Kong€Special€AdministrativeÐ £Ú ÐRegion€to€do€so€by€virtue€of€a€combination€of€articles62(3)€and€151€of€theÐ f ÐBasic€Law.€€He€wondered€whether€the€present€Hong€Kong€Government€had€any€viewsÐ )`  Ðon€the€matter.€€While€there€was€no€reason€to€believe€that€China€had€anyÐ ì#! Ðintention€of€failing€to€comply€with€the€principle€of€òòpacta€sunt€servandaóó,€hadÐ ¯æ" Ðany€thought€been€given€as€to€how€the€UnitedKingdom€could€enforce€theÐ r©# Ðprinciple€if€a€breach€did€occur?€€Ð 5 l$ ÐÌÔ €ª£ÔÔ €ª£Ô17.à b àThe€other€point€he€wished€to€raise€was€that€of€the€entrenchment€ofÐ »!F . Ðcertain€rights,€in€the€sense€that€the€provisions€relating€to€those€rightsÐ ~" !/ Ðcould€€not€be€amended€except€by€a€weighted€majority.€€Referring€in€thatÐ A#Ì!0 Ðconnection€to€the€provisions€contained€in€the€second€paragraph€of€article159Ð $"1 Ðof€the€Basic€Law,€he€remarked€that,€unfortunately,€the€interpretation€given€toÐ Ç$R#2 Ðthe€question€of€the€availability€of€rights€under€the€Covenant€to€the€citizensÐ Š%$3 Ðof€HongKong€in€their€relations€to€each€other€was€even€now€somewhatÐ M&Ø$4 Ðregressive.€€It€was€difficult€to€understand€why€section7€of€the€BORO€shouldÐ '›%5 Ðapply€only€to€the€Government€and€all€public€authorities€but€not€to€the€peopleÐ Ó'^&6 Ðof€HongKong.€€Why,€for€example,€was€the€prohibition€of€violation€of€the€rightÐ –(!'7 Ðto€life€applicable€only€to€government€officials?€€On€the€face€of€it,€HongKongÐ Y)ä'8 Ðhad€a€better€system€than€the€UnitedKingdom€itself€because,€unlike€theÐ *§(9 ÐUnitedKingdom,€it€had€a€bill€of€rights€as€well€as€the€common€law.€€However,Ð ß*j): Ðthe€Bill€of€Rights€in€HongKong€was€subject€to€severe€restrictions,€and€thatÐ ¢+-*; Ðwas€what€made€the€question€of€entrenchment€particularly€important.Ð e,ð*< ÐÐ (-³+= Ð18.à b àòòMr.€POCARóó€said€that€the€UnitedKingdom€Government's€interpretation€ofÐ É Ðinternational€law€with€regard€to€human€rights€treaties,€as€explained€byÐ ŒÃ ÐMr.Steel€at€the€previous€meeting,€was€fully€consistent€with€the€Committee'sÐ O† Ðviews€and€practice.€€It€was€thus€common€ground€that€the€essential€parts€of€theÐ I ÐCovenant,€including€the€reporting€procedure€under€article40,€could€not€beÐ Õ  Ðderogated€from€under€any€circumstances.€€That€being€so,€it€was€clear€that€theÐ ˜Ï ÐUnitedKingdom€had€a€responsibility€for€handing€over€the€territory€ofÐ [ ’ ÐHongKong€to€China€under€conditions€that€would€prevent€any€erosion€of€existingÐ  U Ðhuman€rights€standards.€€He€would€not€go€so€far€as€to€say€that€theÐ á  ÐUnitedKingdom€had€to€continue€to€assume€responsibility€for€the€protection€ofÐ ¤ Û  Ðhuman€rights€after€the€transfer€of€power€„€such€a€stipulation€would€beÐ g ž  Ðimpossible€to€fulfil€„€but€he€was€certain€that€it€did€have€an€obligation€toÐ * a  Ðensure€the€continuity€of€human€rights€protection€in€the€territory.Ð í $  ÐÌ19.à b àOn€the€occasion€of€the€consideration€of€an€earlier€periodic€report€onÐ sª  ÐHongKong,€he€had€been€disturbed€by€the€view€expressed€by€the€UnitedKingdomÐ 6m  Ðdelegation€to€the€effect€that€the€UnitedKingdom€Government€was€not€in€aÐ ù0  Ðposition€to€give€an€authoritative€interpretation€of€the€Basic€Law,€which€hadÐ ¼ó  Ðbeen€drawn€up€by€China.€€In€his€view,€while€the€UnitedKingdom€could€not€beÐ ¶  Ðexpected€to€take€responsibility€so€far€as€the€Basic€Law€itself€was€concerned,Ð By Ðit€did€have€a€responsibility€for€the€implementation€of€the€Joint€DeclarationÐ < Ðand€should€make€sure€that€the€Joint€Declaration€was€interpreted€in€the€sameÐ Èÿ Ðway€by€both€parties.€€In€that€connection,€he€would€welcome€more€information€onÐ ‹Â Ðthe€arrangements€made€with€regard€to€future€reporting€under€article40€of€theÐ N… ÐCovenant.Ð H ÐÌ20.à b àThe€second€point€he€wished€to€raise€related€to€press€reports€suggestingÐ —Î Ðthat€the€position€taken€by€the€Preliminary€Working€Committee€was€liable€toÐ Z‘ Ðlead€to€a€substantive€erosion€of€the€Bill€of€Rights€Ordinance,€including€theÐ T Ðrepeal€of€certain€rights.€€What€was€the€UnitedKingdom€doing€to€ensure€thatÐ à Ðsuch€a€situation€did€not€arise?€€Ð £Ú ÐÌ21.à b àòòMr.€BRUNI€CELLIóó€said€there€was€no€doubt€that€the€Committee's€main€concernÐ )`  Ðwas€the€future€implementation€of€the€basic€provisions€of€the€Covenant€afterÐ ì#! Ð30June1997.€€That€concern€was€not€simply€of€academic€importance€but€also€ofÐ ¯æ" Ðimportance€for€the€applicability€of€the€Covenant,€for€the€rights€alreadyÐ r©# Ðenjoyed€by€the€people€of€HongKong€and€for€future€reports€which€were€to€beÐ 5 l$ Ðpresented€to€the€Committee.€€According€to€article39€of€the€Basic€Law,€theÐ ø /% Ðrights€already€acquired€by€the€people€of€HongKong€would€be€respected.€Ð »!ò& ÐRestrictions€by€future€law€could€create€a€particularly€delicate€problem€forÐ ~"µ' Ðinternational€law€on€human€rights.€€On€the€specific€question€of€applicability,Ð A#x( Ðarticle5,€paragraphs€1€and€2,€of€the€Covenant€imposed€the€requirement€ofÐ $;) Ðnon-derogability€of€established€fundamental€human€rights.€€There€were€noÐ Ç$þ* Ðprovisions€for€denunciation€in€the€Covenant.€€International€human€rights€lawÐ Š%Á + Ðwas€binding,€and€although€it€was€created€by€States,€States€could€not€withdrawÐ M&„!, Ðfrom€their€obligations.€€€Treaties€contained€stipulations€formulated€in€favourÐ 'G"- Ðof€the€citizens€of€States,€and€the€fulfilment€of€obligations€under€thoseÐ Ó' #. Ðtreaties€was€not€left€solely€to€the€will€of€States.€€They€could€not€thereforeÐ –(Í#/ Ðbe€repealed€unilaterally.€€States€which€ratified€a€human€rights€agreementÐ Y)$0 Ðassumed€certain€obligations€towards€the€persons€under€their€jurisdiction.Ð *S%1 ÐÌ22.à b àThe€Basic€Law€was€a€Chinese€law.€€Under€article€39€of€that€Law,€theÐ ¢+Ù&3 ÐCommittee€would€in€the€future€have€to€seek€information€from€the€Government€ofÐ e,œ'4 ÐChina.€€The€Joint€Declaration€had€been€described€as€an€international€treaty,Ð (-_(5 Ðand€in€those€circumstances€the€principle€of€òòpacta€sunt€servandaóó€must€beÐ É Ðobserved€and€the€obligations€established€by€article€26€of€the€ViennaÐ ŒÃ ÐConvention€on€the€Law€of€Treaties€fulfilled.€€He€therefore€wished€to€draw€theÐ O† Ðattention€of€the€Committee€to€paragraph€156€of€the€Joint€Declaration.€€WhatÐ I Ðinterpretation€was€to€be€given€to€the€stipulation€that€"the€provisions€of€theÐ Õ  ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€and€the€InternationalÐ ˜Ï ÐCovenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€as€applied€to€Hong€Kong€shallÐ [ ’ Ðremain€in€force"?€€It€should€be€noted€that€the€paragraph€referred€first€to€theÐ  U ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€and€second€to€theÐ á  ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights,€the€reverse€ofÐ ¤ Û  Ðthe€order€in€the€International€Bill€of€Human€Rights.€€He€wondered€what€thatÐ g ž  Ðreversal€meant,€and€whether€the€provisions,€as€applied€to€HongKong,€pertainedÐ * a  Ðto€the€two€Covenants€or€only€to€the€second,€the€International€Covenant€onÐ í $  ÐEconomic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights.€€That€distinction€was€important€becauseÐ °ç  Ðwhile€article2€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€RightsÐ sª  Ðcalled€for€its€implementation€without€distinction€of€any€kind,€article2€ofÐ 6m  Ðthe€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€allowed€Ð ù0  Ðcertain€conditions:€€States€parties€made€a€commitment€to€take€steps,€to€theÐ ¼ó  Ðmaximum€of€their€available€resources,€with€a€view€to€achieving€the€progressiveÐ ¶  Ðrealization€of€the€rights€recognized€in€that€Covenant.€€It€was€therefore€notÐ By Ðan€absolute€obligation.€€Ð < ÐÌ23.à b àòòMr.€BUERGENTHALóó€said€he€was€pleased€by€the€United€Kingdom€Government'sÐ ‹Â Ðcategorical€and€unequivocal€statement€that€the€Joint€Declaration€made€theÐ N… ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€as€a€whole€applicable€inÐ H ÐHong€Kong€after€1997.€€There€was€no€doubt€that€the€State€party'sÐ Ô  Ðinterpretation€of€the€Joint€Declaration€was€sound€under€international€law€andÐ —Î Ðentirely€consistent€with€United€Kingdom's€obligations€under€the€Covenant€andÐ Z‘ Ðtowards€the€people€of€Hong€Kong.€€He€was€particularly€impressed€by€theÐ T Ðemphasis€Mr.€Steel€had€put€on€the€Joint€Declaration's€status€as€anÐ à Ðinternational€treaty,€registered€with€the€UnitedNations€under€Article102€ofÐ £Ú Ðthe€Charter.€€He€wondered€whether€he€was€correct€in€assuming€that€theÐ f Ðdelegation's€emphasis€in€that€regard€indicated€that€the€United€Kingdom€wishedÐ )`  Ðto€stress€that€among€the€remedies€available€to€it€if€the€Covenant€was€notÐ ì#! Ðcomplied€with€in€future,€was€the€right€to€put€the€matter€before€theÐ ¯æ" ÐUnitedNations€or€other€international€bodies,€unencumbered€by€the€prohibitionÐ r©# Ðof€interference€in€a€country's€domestic€affairs.€€The€prevailing€thinking€inÐ 5 l$ Ðinternational€law€was€that€international€treaties€were€not€needed€to€deal€withÐ ø /% Ðmatters€of€human€rights€at€the€international€level,€but€some€countries€took€aÐ »!ò& Ðcontrary€view.€€That€was€why€he€considered€the€United€Kingdom's€emphasisÐ ~"µ' Ðnoteworthy.Ð A#x( ÐÌ24.à b àThe€effect€of€the€Joint€Declaration€was€that€the€manner€in€which€humanÐ Ç$þ* Ðrights€were€observed€in€Hong€Kong€was€a€matter€of€international€concern€andÐ Š%Á + Ðnot€a€subject€of€domestic€jurisdiction.€€He€therefore€wondered€whether€thatÐ M&„!, Ðwas€the€message€which€the€State€party€had€wished€to€convey€to€the€Committee.Ð 'G"- ÐÌ25.à b àHe€also€inquired€whether€the€activities€of€the€Joint€Liaison€Group€wouldÐ –(Í#/ Ðend€in€the€year€2000€and,€if€so,€what€other€dispute„resolution€mechanisms€wereÐ Y)$0 Ðenvisaged€after€that€year.€€Ð *S%1 ÐÌ26.à b àHe€wished€to€mention€that,€in€the€event€of€non„compliance€with€theÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðâ âCovenant,€the€Government€of€the€United€Kingdom€could€approach€theÐ e,œ'4 ÐUnitedNations.€€He€assumed€that€the€Government€could€inform€the€Human€RightsÐ É ÐCommittee€when€the€Committee€prepared€its€annual€report.Ð ŒÃ Ðâ âÌ27.à b àHe€had€a€particular€interest€in€compliance€with€the€reporting€proceduresÐ I Ðof€the€Covenant.€€He€asked€whether€the€Government€of€the€United€Kingdom€hadÐ Õ  Ðindications€on€how€that€matter€was€to€be€dealt€with€and€whether€theÐ ˜Ï ÐUnitedKingdom€had€made€proposals€on€that€subject.€€Those€were€practicalÐ [ ’ Ðissues€which,€admittedly,€were€not€easily€resolved.Ð  U ÐÌ28.à b àAnother€point€of€interest€related€to€the€notification€requirement€inÐ ¤ Û  Ðcases€of€emergency€under€article€4,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant.€€Since€theÐ g ž  Ðrequirement€to€notify€the€Human€Rights€Committee€when€an€emergency€arose€wasÐ * a  Ðan€essential€part€of€the€procedures€established€in€the€Covenant,€and€noÐ í $  Ðmention€had€been€made€of€the€requirement€in€the€State€party's€presentation,€heÐ °ç  Ðwondered€whether€that€issue€had€been€considered€by€the€United€KingdomÐ sª  ÐGovernment.€€Ð 6m  ÐÌ29.à b àOn€the€subject€of€a€human€rights€commission,€he€was€unconvinced€by€theÐ ¼ó  Ðreasons€given€for€its€non„establishment.€€Such€a€body€would€carry€out€the€sameÐ ¶  Ðfunctions€as€the€Human€Rights€Unit,€but€one€important€distinction€was€that€theÐ By Ðhuman€rights€commission€would€be€independent.€€The€very€existence€of€aÐ < Ðcommission€would€serve€as€a€symbolic€expression€of€support€for€the€importantÐ Èÿ Ðrole€that€human€rights€played€in€Hong€Kong.€€The€objections€which€had€beenÐ ‹Â Ðmentioned€were€the€same€as€those€that€had€prevented€other€countries€fromÐ N… Ðestablishing€an€independent€commission.€€He€wondered€what€the€real€objectionsÐ H Ðwere.Ð Ô  ÐÌ30.à b àHe€wished€to€associate€himself€with€the€observations€made€by€Mr.€BhagwatiÐ Z‘ Ðand€Ms.€Evatt€about€the€apparently€discriminatory€system€of€elections€inÐ T ÐHongKong.€€Only€20€of€the€60€government€representatives€were€elected€byÐ à Ðuniversal€suffrage.€€The€remaining€40€were€elected€on€the€basis€of€functionsÐ £Ú Ðand,€in€effect,€a€large€sector€of€the€population€was€disenfranchised.€€HeÐ f Ðwondered€whether€the€people€of€Hong€Kong€could€be€expected€to€have€confidenceÐ )`  Ðin€the€protection€of€their€human€rights€if€large€segments€of€the€populationÐ ì#! Ðplayed€no€role€in€the€law„making€process.€€Ð ¯æ" ÐÌÔ €ª£ÔÔ €ª£Ô31.à b àòòMr.€BANóó€agreed€with€his€colleagues€on€all€the€issues€they€had€raised,€butÐ 5 À, Ðfound€it€unnecessary€to€stress€the€jurisprudence€of€the€Committee.€€The€JointÐ ø ƒ- ÐDeclaration€by€China€and€HongKong€had€been€a€clear-cut€decision€betweenÐ »!F . Ðtwocountries€in€an€internationally€binding€document.€€The€UnitedKingdomÐ ~" !/ ÐGovernment€wasto€be€commended€for€its€approach€in€entering€into€thatÐ A#Ì!0 Ðagreement.Ð $"1 ÐÌ32.à b àOne€issue€which€gave€rise€to€concern€was€the€wording€of€the€Basic€Law.€Ð Š%$3 ÐThat€Law€was€a€product€of€national€legislation€and,€under€international€law,Ð M&Ø$4 Ðit€was€uncontested€that€international€treaties€prevailed€over€internal€law.€Ð '›%5 ÐThe€fear€had€been€expressed€that€China€did€not€intend€to€respect€the€JointÐ Ó'^&6 ÐDeclaration€and€information€had€been€passed€on€to€the€Committee€in€thatÐ –(!'7 Ðregard.€€It€was€clear€that€the€Committee's€discussion€involved€HongKong,€aÐ Y)ä'8 ÐState€party€to€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€andÐ *§(9 Ðnot€a€future€State€party.€€China€was€not€present€before€the€Committee€so€itÐ ß*j): Ðwould€have€been€unfair€to€elaborate€on€that€issue.€€He€welcomed€the€commentsÐ ¢+-*; Ðâ âof€the€UnitedKingdom€delegation€on€that€subject.€€He€believed€that€theÐ e,ð*< ÐUnitedKingdom€Government€had€done€everything€possible€to€ensure€the€futureÐ É Ðimplementation€of€the€Covenant€by€China.Ð ŒÃ Ðâ âÌ33.à b àFrom€a€legal€standpoint,€there€was€no€doubt€that€article40€wasÐ I Ðapplicable.€€Mr.€Pocar€had€raised€the€interesting€issue€of€the€optionalityÐ Õ  Ðandnon-optionality€of€the€Protocol.€€The€Covenant€was€in€fact€an€indivisibleÐ ˜Ï Ðentity€and€States€could€neither€opt€in€nor€opt€out.€€Article41€was€notÐ [ ’ Ðrelevant€to€the€discussion.€€From€a€practical€standpoint,€however,€he€believedÐ  U Ðthat€more€decisiveness€could€have€been€expected€from€HongKong€beyond€theÐ á  Ðdrafting,€signing€and€ratification€of€the€Joint€Declaration€because€theÐ ¤ Û  ÐUnitedKingdom€was€a€State€party€bound€by€the€reporting€obligations€and€wouldÐ g ž  Ðbe€transferring€a€treaty€obligation€to€another€State€party.€€Normal€diligence€€Ð * a  Ðrequired€that€a€successor€to€reporting€obligations€should€be€designated€orÐ í $  Ðthat€an€effort€be€made€to€identify€the€body€responsible€for€compliance€withÐ °ç  Ðthe€reporting€obligations€òòvis„„visóó€the€Committee.Ð sª  ÐÌ34.à b àWhile€he€congratulated€the€Government€of€the€UnitedKingdom€and€theÐ ù0  ÐHongKong€authorities€on€the€commendable€and€extensive€legislative€work€theyÐ ¼ó  Ðhad€carried€out,€he€was€somewhat€perplexed€to€read€in€the€report€that€a€numberÐ ¶  Ðof€bills€had€been€tabled€and€were€awaiting€examination€by€the€Parliament.€€HeÐ By Ðwished€to€know€what€the€applicable€law€would€be€on€1€July€1997.€€It€would€beÐ < Ðhelpful€if€the€State€party€appeared€before€the€Committee€a€few€months€beforeÐ Èÿ Ðthe€transfer€of€sovereignty€to€submit€a€report€on€what€had€transpired€sinceÐ ‹Â Ðthe€consideration€of€the€fourth€periodic€report.€€The€Committee€should€bearÐ N… Ðinmind€that€it€hoped€to€receive€a€fifth€periodic€report€and€that€when€itÐ H Ðconsidered€that€report,€reference€would€be€made€to€the€status€of€legislationÐ Ô  Ðbefore€the€transfer€of€power€to€China.€€He€therefore€thought€it€would€beÐ —Î Ðuseful€to€receive€an€update€on€enacted€legislation€in€the€first€half€of€1997.Ð Z‘ ÐÌ35.à b àòòMr.€FRANCISóó€agreed€that€the€uncertainty€surrounding€events€afterÐ à ÐJuly1997€was€a€major€source€of€concern.€€It€was€heartening€to€observe€thatÐ £Ú Ðthe€first€part€of€the€Joint€Declaration€contained€provisions€to€guaranteeÐ f Ðthecontinuation€of€the€capitalist€system€and€the€prevailing€lifestyle€inÐ )`  ÐHongKong€for€50years.€€Since€becoming€a€member€of€the€Committee,€he€had€beenÐ ì#! Ðassured€that€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€were€the€minimum€standardsÐ ¯æ" Ðacceptable€in€the€general€context€of€multilateral€diplomacy.€€Thanks€to€theÐ r©# Ðnumber€of€ratifications€of€the€Covenant,€its€provisions€had€been€crystallizedÐ 5 l$ Ðinto€customary€international€law€and€were€therefore€binding€on€State€parties.Ð ø /% ÐÌ36.à b àThe€experience€of€Yugoslavia€and€the€demise€of€the€SovietUnion€hadÐ ~"µ' Ðtaught€that€rights€acquired€by€people€were€inalienable.€€That€was€his€startingÐ A#x( Ðpoint€with€regard€to€article40€of€the€Covenant.€€He€commended€the€GovernmentÐ $;) Ðof€the€UnitedKingdom€for€the€clever€formulation€of€the€Joint€Declaration€andÐ Ç$þ* Ðpointed€out€that€there€were€at€least€three€clear€procedures€under€article11Ð Š%Á + Ðof€the€Joint€Declaration:€€the€successor€State€could€report€directly;Ð M&„!, ÐHongKong,€China,€could€report€directly,€subject€to€one€condition;€andÐ 'G"- ÐHongKong€could€report€through€the€successor€State.€€Even€though€China€wasÐ Ó' #. Ðnota€State€party€to€the€Covenant,€article11€of€the€Joint€Declaration€madeÐ –(Í#/ Ðclear-cut€provisions€for€reporting.€€There€was€therefore€no€doubt€thatÐ Y)$0 Ðarticle40€was€applicable.Ð *S%1 ÐÌ37.à b àThere€were€two€remaining€issues€of€grave€importance,€namely,€theÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðestablishment€of€a€human€rights€commission€and€the€question€of€unequalÐ e,œ'4 Ðsuffrage.€€He€shared€Mr.Buergenthal's€view€that€the€explanation€inÐ (-_(5 Ðparagraph10€of€the€report€was€not€satisfactory.€€Hong€Kong€had€a€strongÐ É Ðnetwork€of€NGOs€and€a€highly€organized€system€of€education€in€human€rights.€Ð ŒÃ ÐAs€the€whole€population€became€increasingly€aware€of€their€rights,€the€greaterÐ O† Ðtheir€recourse€would€be€to€the€established€institutions€for€enforcement€ofÐ I Ðthose€rights€and€the€swift€dispensation€of€justice.€€The€court€system€involvedÐ Õ  Ða€long€and€expensive€process€and€therefore€could€not€handle€all€such€matters.€Ð ˜Ï ÐSeveral€countries€had€used€their€human€rights€commissions€to€great€advantageÐ [ ’ Ðand€he€was€sure€that€HongKong€would€benefit€from€such€an€institution.€€HeÐ  U Ðurged€the€UnitedKingdom€Government€to€reconsider€its€stand€on€that€matter.€€Ð á  ÐÌ38.à b àWith€regard€to€unequal€suffrage,€the€UnitedKingdom€Government€could€notÐ g ž  Ðallow€the€situation€to€remain€as€it€was.€€When€policy€matters€were€to€beÐ * a  Ðdiscussed,€the€Government€could€solicit€the€views€of€the€various€interestÐ í $  Ðgroups,€but€dispossessing€people€of€their€rights€and€investing€them€in€othersÐ °ç  Ðwas€not€the€correct€solution.€€Article25€of€the€Covenant€expressed€the€ideaÐ sª  Ðof€"one€man,€one€vote".€€It€should€be€clear€that€the€Government€of€theÐ 6m  ÐUnitedKingdom€had€a€sacred€obligation€to€rectify€the€situation€of€unequalÐ ù0  Ðsuffrage€before€1997.€€He€would€welcome€comment€by€the€UnitedKingdomÐ ¼ó  Ðdelegation€on€that€issue.Ð ¶  ÐÌ39.à b àHong€Kong€had€done€all€it€could€in€the€Joint€Declaration,€as€far€asÐ < Ðarticle40€of€the€Covenant€was€concerned.€€Discussions€should€continue€behindÐ Èÿ Ðthe€scenes€to€achieve€a€clear€understanding€in€order€to€ensure€a€smoothÐ ‹Â Ðtransition€of€responsibility€of€the€State€party€with€regard€to€article40€ofÐ N… Ðthe€Covenant.Ð H ÐÌ40.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€invited€the€United€Kingdom€delegation€to€reply€to€theÐ —Î Ðquestions€put€by€members€of€the€Committee.Ð Z‘ ÐÌ41.à b àòòMr.€STEELóó€(United€Kingdom)€said€that€he€would€reply€to€those€questionsÐ à Ðwhich€concerned€the€responsibility€of€the€UnitedKingdom€Government,€whileÐ £Ú ÐMr.Fung€would€respond€to€those€which€concerned€the€laws€and€practices€ofÐ f ÐHongKong.€€Ð )`  ÐÌ42.à b àIt€had€been€asked€what€measures€the€UnitedKingdom€was€taking€to€ensure,Ð ¯æ" Ðafter€the€hand-over€of€July1997,€the€implementation€of€the€provisions€of€theÐ r©# ÐCovenant€in€HongKong,€and€in€particular€the€continued€submission€of€reportsÐ 5 l$ Ðto€the€Committee.€€Mr.BruniCelli€had€inquired€whether€the€phrase€"as€appliedÐ ø /% Ðto€HongKong"€in€article39€of€the€BasicLaw€referred€to€both€the€CovenantÐ »!ò& Ðandthe€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights.€€HeÐ ~"µ' Ðassured€the€Committee€that€their€order€in€that€sentence€implied€no€preference;Ð A#x( Ðthe€phrase€applied€equally€to€both€instruments.Ð $;) ÐÌ43.à b àIn€its€discussions€with€the€Chinese€Government,€the€UnitedKingdom€hadÐ Š%Á + Ðclearly€set€forth€its€view€of€the€obligations€of€that€State€òòvis--visóó€theÐ M&„!, ÐCovenant.€€No€agreement€on€a€procedure€for€the€continued€transmission€ofÐ 'G"- Ðreports€had€as€yet€been€reached.€€He€could€not€speak€for€another€sovereignÐ Ó' #. ÐState,€and€therefore€could€not€relay€to€the€Committee€the€views€expressed€byÐ –(Í#/ ÐChina€in€the€course€of€those€talks.€€The€UnitedKingdom€had€set€before€ChinaÐ Y)$0 Ðits€view€of€the€possible€ways€in€which€that€Government€might€discharge€itsÐ *S%1 Ðobligations€under€article40€of€the€Covenant€in€the€matter€of€HongKong.€Ð ß*&2 ÐChina€could€either€accede€to€the€Covenant€in€respect€of€the€whole€of€itsÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðterritory€or€in€respect€of€HongKong€alone.€€As€it€had€informed€the€ChineseÐ e,œ'4 ÐGovernment,€the€UnitedKingdom€would€welcome€that€country's€accession€to€theÐ (-_(5 ÐCovenant,€but€the€decision€was€naturally€China's.€€His€Government€could€notÐ É Ðpress€the€Chinese€Government€on€that€point.€€If€the€Chinese€GovernmentÐ ŒÃ Ðpreferred€that€HongKong€should€report€directly€to€the€Committee,€thatÐ O† Ðapproach€would€also€be€welcome.€€In€any€event,€his€Government€would€pursueÐ I Ðvigorously€its€talks€with€the€Chinese€Government€and€remained€hopeful€aboutÐ Õ  Ðthe€results.Ð ˜Ï ÐÌ44.à b àMembers€of€the€Committee€had€inquired€what€measures€the€UnitedKingdomÐ  U Ðwas€taking€to€ensure€that€the€Covenant€would€be€implemented€in€HongKong€afterÐ á  ÐJuly1997.€€He€could€only€refer€the€Committee€once€again€to€the€legislativeÐ ¤ Û  Ðagreements€into€which€the€UnitedKingdom€had€entered€with€China€in€the€matterÐ g ž  Ðof€HongKong,€as€well€as€to€the€machinery€set€up€in€Hong€Kong€to€facilitateÐ * a  Ðthe€working€of€those€agreements.€€The€Committee€should€rest€assured€that€theÐ í $  ÐUnitedKingdom€would€continue€to€impress€its€views€on€the€Chinese€Government.Ð °ç  ÐÌ45.à b àInvoking€Article€102€of€the€Charter,€Mr.€Buergenthal€had€suggested€thatÐ 6m  ÐChina€might€indeed€be€obliged€under€international€law€to€fulfil€obligationsÐ ù0  Ðimposed€by€the€Covenant€with€respect€to€HongKong.€€In€the€view€of€theÐ ¼ó  ÐUnitedKingdom€Government,€it€was€unnecessary€to€contemplate€such€a€recourseÐ ¶  Ðat€the€current€stage.€€Ð By ÐÌ46.à b àThe€BasicLaw€was€Chinese€and€he€was€therefore€not€in€a€position€toÐ Èÿ Ðprovide€an€authoritative€reading€of€its€provisions.€€He€could€neverthelessÐ ‹Â Ðsafely€assure€the€Committee€that€the€phrase€in€question-€"shall€beÐ N… Ðimplemented€through€the€laws€of€the€HongKong€Special€Administrative€Region"-Ð H Ðhad€no€sinister€implications;€it€simply€indicated€that€the€provisions€of€theÐ Ô  ÐCovenant€would€be€implemented€under€the€terms€of€that€legislative€regime.€€Ð —Î ÐÌ47.à b àHis€Government€had€carefully€assessed,€in€consultation€with€theÐ T ÐGovernment€of€HongKong,€the€reservations€to€the€Covenant€in€force€withÐ à Ðrespect€to€that€territory€and€had€determined€that€all€of€them€were€relevantÐ £Ú Ðand€necessary.€€They€would€not€therefore€be€withdrawn.Ð f ÐÌ48.à b àThe€recommendations€of€the€Preparatory€Working€Committee's€LegalÐ ì#! ÐSub-group€were€indeed€troubling;€his€Government€had€already€expressed€itsÐ ¯æ" Ðserious€concern€about€those€proposals€to€the€Joint€Liaison€Group€in€HongKongÐ r©# Ðand€would€vigorously€reiterate€that€concern€at€its€meeting€later€that€month.€Ð 5 l$ ÐIn€the€view€of€his€Government,€the€Bill€of€Rights€was€entirely€consistent€withÐ ø /% Ðboth€the€Joint€Declaration€and€with€the€BasicLaw;€there€was€no€cause€for€itÐ »!ò& Ðto€be€either€repealed€or€amended€in€the€manner€suggested.Ð ~"µ' ÐÌ49.à b àConcern€had€also€been€expressed€about€the€amendment€or€repeal€ofÐ $;) Ðindividual€ordinances.€€It€was€the€responsibility€of€his€Government,€under€theÐ Ç$þ* ÐJoint€Declaration,€to€ensure€that€the€laws€of€HongKong€were€brought€intoÐ Š%Á + Ðconformity€with€the€terms€of€the€Covenant€and€therefore€also€in€line€with€theÐ M&„!, Ðprovisions€of€the€Bill€of€Rights.€€He€wished€to€stress€that€no€major€changesÐ 'G"- Ðwere€being€made€to€the€laws€of€HongKong,€except€to€the€extent€specificallyÐ Ó' #. Ðrequired€by€and€compatible€with€the€JointDeclaration€and€the€BasicLaw.Ð –(Í#/ ÐÌ50.à b àThe€arrangements€for€the€1995€election€of€the€Legislative€Council€hadÐ *S%1 Ðbeen€open,€fair€and€consistent€with€the€agreements€and€undertakings€reachedÐ ß*&2 Ðbetween€the€British€and€Chinese€Governments.€€In€the€view€of€his€Government,Ð ¢+Ù&3 Ðthat€election€had€fulfilled€the€wish€of€the€HongKong€community€for€a€credibleÐ e,œ'4 Ðrepresentative€institution€capable€of€carrying€on€after€the€hand-overÐ (-_(5 ÐofJuly1997.€€If€the€Chinese€Government€saw€fit€to€make€alternativeÐ É Ðarrangements,€it€would€be€incumbent€upon€it€to€explain€to€the€people€ofÐ ŒÃ ÐHongKong€and€to€the€international€community€just€how€those€arrangements€wouldÐ O† Ðboth€favour€a€smooth€transition€and€fulfil€that€country's€obligations€underÐ I Ðthe€Joint€Declaration.Ð Õ  ÐÌ51.à b àThe€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€againstÐ [ ’ ÐWomen€(CEDAW)€would€in€fact€devolve€to€the€HongKong€Special€AdministrativeÐ  U ÐRegion.€€The€UnitedKingdom€had€announced€its€intention€to€withdraw€many€ofÐ á  Ðits€reservations€to€that€instrument;€when€that€process€was€completed,€it€wouldÐ ¤ Û  Ðhold€talks€with€the€HongKong€Government€to€determine€which€of€the€remainingÐ g ž  Ðreservations€should€apply€to€that€territory.€€The€extension€of€CEDAW€toÐ * a  ÐHongKong€would€impose€new€international€rights€and€obligations.€€It€wouldÐ í $  Ðtherefore€be€necessary€to€consult€the€Chinese€Government€after€the€conclusionÐ °ç  Ðof€such€an€agreement;€since,€however,€China€was€a€party€to€CEDAW,€noÐ sª  Ðdifficulties€were€anticipated.Ð 6m  ÐÌ52.à b àThe€Bill€of€Rights€did€not€reflect€article24,€paragraph3,€of€theÐ ¼ó  ÐCovenant€because€the€law€concerning€nationality€currently€in€effect€inÐ ¶  ÐHongKong€was€not€a€HongKong€law€but€a€British€law.€€But€since€the€rightÐ By Ðofachild€to€acquire€a€nationality€was€protected€under€the€laws€of€theÐ < ÐUnitedKingdom,€it€was€fully€respected€in€HongKong€as€well.Ð Èÿ ÐÌÔ €ª£ÔÔ €ª£Ô53.à b àòòMr.€FUNGóó€(Hong€Kong€Government)€said€that€the€Government€of€China€did€notÐ NÙ Ðexert€an€undue€influence€on€the€policies€of€the€HongKong€Government.€€TheÐ œ  Ðposition€of€the€HongKong€Government€was€clear:€€it€would€not€cede€policyÐ Ô_! Ðquestions€to€any€other€body;€it€had€always€formulated€and€implemented€policyÐ —"" Ðin€the€best€interests€of€the€people€of€HongKong,€and€would€continue€to€do€so.Ð Zå# ÐIndeed,€under€the€terms€of€the€Joint€Declaration€and€the€Basic€Law,€whichÐ ¨$ Ðprovided€for€a€high€degree€of€autonomy€for€the€HongKong€SpecialÐ àk% ÐAdministrative€Region,€the€territory€would€continue€to€enjoy€the€sameÐ £.& Ðautonomyas€it€had€traditionally€enjoyed€òòvis--visóó€the€United€Kingdom.Ð fñ' ÐÌ54.à b àThe€regulations€imposed€under€the€terms€of€the€Emergency€RegulationsÐ ìw) ÐOrdinance€had€recently€been€repealed€in€HongKong.€€As€long€as€no€emergencyÐ ¯:* Ðarose,€the€Government€saw€no€grounds€for€enacting€new€emergency€provisions.€Ð rý+ ÐThe€Emergency€Regulations€Ordinance€nevertheless€remained€on€the€statute€book;Ð 5 À, Ðwhile€the€capacity€to€legislate€such€regulations€therefore€remained,€it€couldÐ ø ƒ- Ðonly€be€exercised€in€the€context€of€a€particular€emergency.€€As€establishedÐ »!F . Ðinsection5€of€the€Bill€of€Rights€Ordinance,€which€reflected€the€terms€ofÐ ~" !/ Ðarticle4€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€emergency€measures€could€only€be€taken€toÐ A#Ì!0 Ðthe€extent€strictly€required€by€the€exigencies€of€the€situation.€€Furthermore,Ð $"1 Ðany€such€measures€were€subject,€before€1997,€to€the€constraints€of€the€LettersÐ Ç$R#2 ÐPatent,€and€after€1997€to€those€of€article39€of€the€Basic€Law.Ð Š%$3 ÐÌ55.à b àLike€Mr.Steel,€he€was€not€competent€to€interpret€the€laws€of€China,€butÐ '›%5 Ðby€his€personal€reading,€the€emergency€regulations€referred€to€in€article18Ð Ó'^&6 Ðof€the€Basic€Law€could€only€be€invoked€in€light€of€article39€of€that€Law.€Ð –(!'7 ÐThat€article€in€turn€mirrored€sentence156€of€the€Joint€Declaration,€whichÐ Y)ä'8 Ðstipulated€that€the€terms€of€the€Covenant€as€applied€to€HongKong€would€remainÐ *§(9 Ðin€force.Ð ß*j): ÐÌ56.à b àThe€second€paragraph€of€article39€of€the€Basic€Law€furthermore€providedÐ e,ð*< Ðthat€the€rights€and€freedoms€enjoyed€by€the€residents€of€HongKong€must€notÐ (-³+= Ðberestricted€unless€as€prescribed€by€law€and€that€such€restrictions€mustÐ É Ðnotcontravene€the€provisions€of€the€preceding€paragraph.€€Therefore€theÐ ŒÃ Ðprovisions€of€the€fourth€paragraph€of€article18€must€be€read€in€theÐ O† Ðlightofthe€limitations€on€emergency€powers€imposed€by€the€Covenant.Ð I ÐÌ57.à b àWhile€no€plans€were€under€way€to€establish€a€human€rights€commissionÐ ˜Ï Ðòòperseóó,€the€functions€of€such€a€body€would€be€discharged€by€other€means.€€TheÐ [ ’ ÐGovernment€had€undertaken€measures€to€promote€public€education€and€to€reviewÐ  U Ðall€legislation€for€consistency€with€the€provisions€of€the€Bill€of€Rights.€Ð á  ÐThere€existed€mechanisms€whereby€the€Government€consulted€the€legislature,Ð ¤ Û  Ðpolitical€parties,€the€Law€Reform€Commission,€the€advisory€bodies,€NGOs€andÐ g ž  Ðmembers€of€the€public€in€the€formulation€of€human€rights€policy,€as€well€as€aÐ * a  Ðsystem€for€monitoring€government€malpractice,€which€involved€the€participationÐ í $  Ðof€the€judiciary,€the€media€and€NGOs.€€While€the€measures€outlined€might€notÐ °ç  Ðmeet€the€Committee's€expectations,€he€could€only€assure€its€members€that€theirÐ sª  Ðviews€had€been€noted€with€interest€and€would€not€be€ignored.Ð 6m  ÐÌ58.à b àThe€HongKong€Government€fully€supported€the€principle€of€equalÐ ¼ó  Ðopportunity€for€all.€€While,€however,€the€Bill€of€Rights€Ordinance€prohibitedÐ ¶  Ðdiscrimination€on€grounds€of€race,€colour,€sex,€language,€religious€belief€orÐ By Ðother€opinion,€national€or€social€origin,€property,€birth€or€other€status,€itÐ < Ðbound€only€governmental€and€public€authorities€and€therefore€did€not€provideÐ Èÿ Ðprotection€against€the€infringement€of€rights€by€other€individuals.€€To€fillÐ ‹Â Ðthat€legislative€gap,€the€Sex€Discrimination€Ordinance€and€the€DisabilityÐ N… ÐDiscrimination€Ordinance€had€been€enacted.€€The€HongKong€Government€wasÐ H Ðadopting€a€step-by-step€approach€to€achieving€a€comprehensiveÐ Ô  Ðanti-discrimination€legislative€programme.Ð —Î ÐÌ59.à b àThe€question€had€been€raised€as€to€why€the€Hong€Kong€Government€consultedÐ T Ðmembers€of€the€public€concerning€anti„discrimination€legislation,€and€inÐ à Ðparticular€with€regard€to€legislation€concerning€discrimination€on€the€basisÐ £Ú Ðof€gender.€€Hong€Kong's€firm€belief€in€government€by€consultation€had€itsÐ f Ðhistorical€roots€in€the€days€when€the€territory€had€benefited€from€no€electedÐ )`  Ðlegislature;€it€had€proved€especially€important€to€be€sensitive€to€the€needsÐ ì#! Ðand€views€of€the€community€in€both€the€formulation€and€the€implementation€ofÐ ¯æ" Ðlaws.€€The€Government€intended€to€conduct€surveys€so€as€to€better€assess€theÐ r©# Ðviews€of€individuals€and€NGOs.Ð 5 l$ ÐÌ60.à b àThe€question€of€the€capacity€to€reinstate€an€employee€dismissed€byÐ »!ò& Ðhisemployer€on€grounds€of€sex€was€certainly€worthy€of€consideration.€€TheÐ ~"µ' ÐLegislative€Council€had€debated€that€issue€in€its€consideration€of€the€SexÐ A#x( ÐDiscrimination€Bill€at€its€previous€session;€the€bill€had,€however,€passedÐ $;) Ðwithout€the€inclusion€of€that€provision.€€It€was€hoped€that€the€EqualÐ Ç$þ* ÐOpportunities€Commission,€to€be€established€under€the€terms€of€the€SexÐ Š%Á + ÐDiscrimination€Ordinance,€would€review€the€implementation€of€the€termsÐ M&„!, Ðofthatlegislation€before€determining€whether€it€should€be€amended€inÐ 'G"- Ðthemannersuggested.Ð Ó' #. ÐÌ61.à b àIn€response€to€the€question€whether€the€work€of€the€Commissioner€forÐ Y)$0 ÐAdministrative€Complaints€was€directly€related€in€any€way€to€that€of€theÐ *S%1 ÐAdministrative€Appeals€Board,€he€said€it€was€not.€€The€Commissioner€operatedÐ ß*&2 Ðindependently€under€a€special€statute€and€had€full€discretion€to€determineÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðwhether€to€undertake€or€pursue€investigations€into€maladministration.€€HeÐ e,œ'4 Ðreported€directly€to€the€Governor,€and€in€cases€where€he€considered€thatÐ (-_(5 Ðaserious€irregularity€or€injustice€had€occurred,€his€report€was€likewiseÐ É Ðtransmitted€to€the€Legislative€Council.€€The€Administrative€Appeals€Board€wasÐ ŒÃ Ðpart€of€a€separate€system€whereby€administrative€decisions€could€be€reviewedÐ O† Ðfrom€the€substantive€standpoint€by€an€independent€appellate€body.€€BothÐ I Ðbodies,€it€was€hoped,€would€reinforce€the€system€of€responsibleÐ Õ  Ðadministration.Ð ˜Ï ÐÌ62.à b àConcerning€village€elections€and€what€steps€the€Government€had€taken€toÐ  U Ðpromote€equality€in€the€face€of€rural€traditions€that€discriminated€againstÐ á  Ðwomen,€he€said€the€Government€was€committed€to€the€dual€principles€of€open€andÐ ¤ Û  Ðfair€elections€and€one€person,€one€vote.€€The€òòHeung€Yee€Kukóó€was€an€independentÐ g ž  Ðbody€that€advised€the€Government€on€New€Territories€matters€and€was€composedÐ * a  Ðof€inhabitants€of€New€Territories.€€It,€too,€fully€supported€the€twoÐ í $  Ðprinciples€he€had€just€mentioned.€€By€August€1995,€through€the€combinedÐ °ç  Ðefforts€of€the€Government,€the€òòHeung€Yee€Kukóó€and€the€rural€committees,€448€ofÐ sª  Ða€total€691€villages€had€used€the€one-person-one-vote€principle€to€elect€theirÐ 6m  Ðrepresentatives.€€The€remaining€villages€were€expected€to€hold€electionsÐ ù0  Ðapplying€the€same€principle€in€late€1995€or€early€1996.Ð ¼ó  ÐÌ63.à b àWomen's€right€to€participate€on€equal€terms€with€men€in€rural€electionsÐ By Ðhad€been€safeguarded€by€the€Sex€Discrimination€Ordinance€enacted€in€July€1995,€Ð < Ðsection35€of€which€provided€that€it€was€unlawful€to€discriminate€against€anyÐ Èÿ Ðperson€in€rural€elections€on€grounds€of€his€or€her€sex.€€In€response€to€theÐ ‹Â Ðquestion€on€steps€to€educate€villagers€and€change€traditional€cultural€biases,Ð N… Ðhe€said€an€explanatory€leaflet€outlining€the€main€features€of€the€SexÐ H ÐDiscrimination€Ordinance€had€been€published;€the€attention€of€theÐ Ô  ÐòòHeungYeeKukóó€had€been€drawn€to€the€provisions€in€the€Sex€DiscriminationÐ —Î ÐOrdinance€on€rural€elections;€liaison€officers€in€New€Territories€had€beenÐ Z‘ Ðinstructed€to€explain€to€villagers€the€effect€of,€and€need€to€comply€with,€theÐ T Ðnew€legislation;€and€District€Boards€had€stepped€up€a€publicity€campaign€toÐ à Ðpromote€the€principle€of€one€person,€one€vote.€€Once€the€Sex€DiscriminationÐ £Ú ÐOrdinance€had€come€into€force,€the€Government€would€cease€to€recognize€villageÐ f Ðrepresentatives€elected€on€any€basis€other€than€one€person,€one€vote:€€thatÐ )`  Ðwould€act€as€a€strong€incentive€to€villagers€to€fall€in€line€with€the€newÐ ì#! Ðprinciple.Ð ¯æ" ÐÌ64.à b àOn€the€question€whether€functional€constituencies€were€consistent€withÐ 5 l$ Ðarticle€26€of€the€Covenant,€he€said€the€distinction€between€the€two€types€ofÐ ø /% Ðelections€„€by€functional€and€by€geographical€constituencies€„€did€not€offendÐ »!ò& Ðarticle€26,€since€it€was€based€on€objective€criteria€and€was€reasonable€underÐ ~"µ' Ðthe€circumstances€now€prevailing€in€Hong€Kong.€€International€jurisprudenceÐ A#x( Ðhad€established€that€special€regard€could€be€given€to€the€particularÐ $;) Ðcircumstances€of€a€country€or€territory€in€implementing€conventions.€Ð Ç$þ* ÐRepresentative€government€was€a€fairly€new€phenomenon€in€Hong€Kong,€and€theÐ Š%Á + Ðestablishment€of€functional€constituencies€could€be€justified€as€a€reasonableÐ M&„!, Ðmeans€of€gradually€consolidating€that€system€of€government.€€Article€68€ofÐ 'G"- ÐtheBasic€Law€enunciated€the€objective€of€gradual€and€orderly€progress€towardsÐ Ó' #. Ðthe€ultimate€aim€of€universal€suffrage,€and€annexII€indicated€that€theÐ –(Í#/ Ðlegislature€would€be€formed€using€functional€constituencies€as€an€interimÐ Y)$0 Ðmeasure.Ð *S%1 ÐÌ65.à b àMs.Evatt€had€asked€about€the€two„week€rule€to€which€foreign€domesticÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðhelpers€were€subject€for€their€residence€in€Hong€Kong€after€termination€ofÐ e,œ'4 Ðcontract.€€The€purpose€of€that€rule€was€to€deter€foreign€domestic€helpers€fromÐ (-_(5 Ðunauthorized€employment€or€residence.€€It€was€not€unique€to€such€workers€butÐ É Ðapplied€generally€to€workers€admitted€to€Hong€Kong€under€the€importation€ofÐ ŒÃ Ðlabour€scheme.€€The€strictness€of€the€rule€was€ameliorated€by€the€fact€thatÐ O† Ðthe€Immigration€Service€was€authorized€to€apply€it€with€flexibility,€takingÐ I Ðinto€account€genuine€grievances€such€as€financial€difficulties€or€employerÐ Õ  Ðabuse.€€In€cases€of€abuse,€foreign€domestic€helpers€were€permitted€to€changeÐ ˜Ï Ðemployment€without€having€to€return€to€their€home€country.Ð [ ’ ÐÌ66.à b àOn€the€question€about€the€revocation€of€voting€rights€for€certainÐ á  Ðcategories€of€criminal€offenders,€the€Government's€view€was€that€suchÐ ¤ Û  Ðelectoral€disqualifications€were€reasonable€restrictions€of€the€right€toÐ g ž  Ðvoteor€to€be€elected,€and€as€such,€were€permissible€under€article€25€of€theÐ * a  ÐCovenant.€€The€Government€did€not€contend€that€such€provisions€were€indicativeÐ í $  Ðof€liberal€electoral€legislation,€but€it€did€maintain€that€they€were€notÐ °ç  Ðunique€worldwide.Ð sª  ÐÌ67.à b àTurning€to€the€question€as€to€why€inter„citizen€rights€had€been€excludedÐ ù0  Ðfrom€the€application€of€the€Bill€of€Rights,€he€said€the€clear€and€honestÐ ¼ó  Ðanswer€was€that€the€decision€had€been€motivated€by€concerns€expressed€by€theÐ ¶  Ðcommunity,€particularly€the€banking,€finance€and€business€sectors,€which€hadÐ By Ðfelt€that€to€do€otherwise€would€be€to€generate€legal€uncertainty.€€The€privateÐ < Ðsector€had€sought€high„level€legal€advice€in€support€of€its€proposal€thatÐ Èÿ Ðcitizen„to„citizen€disputes€should€not€be€covered€by€the€Bill€of€Rights.€Ð ‹Â ÐAfter€lengthy€consultations,€the€Government€had€adopted€the€view€thatÐ N… Ðconductamong€individuals€would€be€more€appropriately€dealt€with€by€detailedÐ H Ðlegislation€rather€than€by€broad€provisions.€€A€policy€decision€had€thereforeÐ Ô  Ðbeen€taken€that€the€object€of€the€Bill€of€Rights€would€be€to€protect€theÐ —Î Ðindividual€from€violation€of€his€or€her€rights€by€the€Government€and€publicÐ Z‘ Ðauthorities.€€Now€that€the€Bill€of€Rights€had€been€passed,€the€Government€wasÐ T Ðstudying€the€possibility€of€introducing€detailed€legislation€on€privacyÐ à Ðprotection€and€discrimination€and€had€recently€introduced€legislation€on€dataÐ £Ú Ðprotection€and€on€prohibition€of€discrimination€on€grounds€of€sex,€maritalÐ f Ðstatus,€pregnancy€or€disability.Ð )`  ÐÌ68.à b àOn€the€correlation€between€article€9€of€the€Bill€of€Rights€and€section€12Ð ¯æ" Ðof€the€Bill€of€Rights€Ordinance,€he€said€that€article€9,€which€was€based€onÐ r©# Ðarticle€13€of€the€Covenant,€conferred€on€a€person€who€had€lost€the€right€ofÐ 5 l$ Ðabode€in€Hong€Kong€the€right€to€the€protection€of€the€law€and€to€advanceÐ ø /% Ðreasons€why€he€or€she€should€not€be€expelled.€€It€also€entitled€such€anÐ »!ò& Ðindividual€to€review€of€his€or€her€case,€and€to€representation€for€thatÐ ~"µ' ÐÔ&   Ôpurpose,€before€a€competent€authority.€€Section€12€of€the€Bill€of€RightsÐ A#x( ÐOrdinance€removed€that€right€of€review€but€not€the€stipulation€that€a€decisionÐ $;) Ðmust€be€reached€in€accordance€with€the€law€and€due€process€observed€in€respectÐ Ç$þ* ÐÔ' A#ºðÔof€the€decision.Ð Š%Á + ÐÌ69.à b àAs€to€the€case€raised€by€Mr.Mavrommatis€illustrating€the€attitude€of€theÐ 'G"- Ðjudiciary€„€its€apparently€less„than„liberal€approach€to€interpretation€of€theÐ Ó' #. ÐBill€of€Rights,€he€said€that€in€almost€every€instance€of€possible€infringementÐ –(Í#/ Ðof€the€Bill€of€Rights,€the€courts€had€to€weigh€the€interest€of€society€inÐ Y)$0 Ðmaintaining€rights€and€freedoms€against€its€competing€interest€in€preservingÐ *S%1 Ðlaw€and€order.€€In€the€case€cited,€it€had€been€necessary€to€strike€a€balanceÐ ß*&2 Ðbetween€free€expression€and€effective€law€enforcement€in€the€form€of€combatingÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðcorruption.€€The€Government€had€given€priority€to€combating€corruption,€whichÐ e,œ'4 Ðwas€considered€to€be€a€pressing€social€problem.€€Accordingly,€the€Court€ofÐ (-_(5 ÐAppeal€had€determined€that€the€investigation€must€remain€confidential,€inÐ É Ðorder€to€protect€the€integrity€of€the€process€and€to€preserve€the€rights€andÐ ŒÃ Ðreputations€of€the€persons€involved.€€That€decision€had€been€appealed€to€theÐ O† ÐPrivy€Council,€which€was€expected€to€resolve€the€matter€in€November€1995.Ð I ÐÌ70.à b àTurning€to€the€important€questions€on€interpretation€of€the€Basic€Law,Ð ˜Ï Ðthe€role€of€the€Standing€Committee€of€the€National€People's€Congress€and€theÐ [ ’ Ðextent€to€which€human€rights€would€be€protected€in€future,€he€said€the€BasicÐ  U ÐLaw€was€a€law€of€the€People's€Republic€of€China,€passed€by€the€NationalÐ á  ÐPeople's€Congress€under€Chinese€jurisprudential€principles.€€The€executiveÐ ¤ Û  Ðbranch,€in€the€course€of€its€acts,€and€the€judiciary,€in€deciding€particularÐ g ž  Ðcases,€could€interpret€the€Law,€though€it€was€only€the€National€People'sÐ * a  ÐCongress€that€had€authority€to€make€broader,€more€authoritativeÐ í $  Ðinterpretations€with€universal€applicability.€€That€principle,€which€informedÐ °ç  Ðthe€wording€of€article€158€of€the€Basic€Law,€came€into€play€only€in€mattersÐ sª  Ðinvolving€the€responsibility€of€the€Central€People's€Government€or€theÐ 6m  Ðrelationship€between€the€central€authorities€and€the€Special€AdministrativeÐ ù0  ÐRegion.€€That€Region€did€not€have€full,€sovereign€powers€(e.g.for€the€conductÐ ¼ó  Ðof€foreign€affairs,€defence,etc.)€and€the€Standing€Committee€of€the€NationalÐ ¶  ÐPeople's€Congress€was€empowered€to€make€an€authoritative€interpretation€inÐ By Ðrespect€of€circumscription€of€the€Region's€jurisdiction.Ð < ÐÌ71.à b àThe€courts€in€the€Special€Administrative€Region€were€free€to€interpretÐ ‹Â Ðthe€Basic€Law€in€the€adjudication€of€cases.€€Judgements€rendered€by€suchÐ N… Ðcourts€were€not€affected€by€subsequent€interpretations€of€the€Basic€Law€by€theÐ H ÐStanding€Committee.€€In€that€sense,€the€system€was€not€very€different€from€theÐ Ô  Ðpresent€one.€€In€making€its€interpretations€of€the€Basic€Law,€the€StandingÐ —Î ÐCommittee€was€also€obliged€to€consult€an€expert€committee€comprising€sixÐ Z‘ Ðjurists€from€the€Special€Administrative€Region€and€six€from€the€rest€of€China.Ð T ÐÌ72.à b àòòMr.€LALLAHóó€thanked€the€representative€of€the€Hong€Kong€Government€forÐ £Ú Ðthestraightforward€and€clear€answers€given€to€questions€by€members€of€theÐ f ÐCommittee.€€One€essential€aspect€of€the€undertakings€made€both€by€theÐ )`  ÐUnitedKingdom€and€by€China€was€that€the€Covenant€should€remain€in€force€inÐ ì#! ÐHong€Kong€now€and€in€the€future.€€To€that€end€HongKong's€Letters€Patent€hadÐ ¯æ" Ðbeen€amended€in€1991,€but€the€measure€had€dealt€only€with€future€legislation.€Ð r©# ÐÔ&   ÔLarge€areas€of€past€legislation€that€violated€human€rights€had€remainedÐ 5 l$ Ðunaffected.€€He€asked€whether€any€steps€were€being€contemplated€to€give€fullÐ ø /% Ðeffect€to€the€commitment€on€the€part€of€both€Governments€to€implementation€ofÐ »!ò& ÐÔ' 5 ùÔthe€Covenant€in€Hong€Kong.Ð ~"µ' ÐÌ73.à b àConcerning€the€education€of€the€village€communities,€he€asked€whetherÐ $;) Ðanythought€had€been€given€to€organizing€seminars€on€evolving€human€rightsÐ Ç$þ* Ðstandards,€such€as€those€for€judges€and€jurists€in€many€parts€of€the€world.Ð Š%Á + ÐÌ74.à b àòòMr.€KRETZMERóó€thanked€the€UnitedKingdom€and€Hong€Kong€representatives€forÐ 'G"- Ðtheir€very€comprehensive€replies.€€However,€two€questions€remained€unanswered:Ð Ó' #. Ðthe€United€Kingdom's€policy€towards€individuals€or€groups€that€might,€becauseÐ –(Í#/ Ðof€earlier€activities€and€positions,€become€vulnerable€once€the€politicalÐ Y)$0 Ðtransition€had€been€achieved,€and€whether€the€Government€intended€to€outlawÐ *S%1 Ðmarital€rape€and€its€policy€in€the€handling€of€domestic€violence.Ð ß*&2 ÐÌ75.à b àòòMr.€PRADO€VALLEJOóó€said€that€in€answering€his€question€on€whether€lawsÐ e,œ'4 Ðthat€would€nullify€the€effect€of€the€Covenant€could€be€promulgated,€theÐ (-_(5 ÐHongKong€delegation€had€simply€referred€to€article39€of€the€Basic€Law.€€ItÐ É Ðwas€precisely€that€text€that€caused€him€concern,€especially€the€phrase€"unlessÐ ŒÃ Ðas€prescribed€by€law",€and€he€would€appreciate€elucidation€of€that€point.Ð O† ÐÌ76.à b àòòMs.€MEDINA€QUIROGAóó€welcomed€the€news€that€the€Government€had€consultedÐ Õ  Ðthe€population€in€connection€with€its€package€of€anti„discrimination€laws,€butÐ ˜Ï Ðwondered€whether€gays€and€lesbians€had€been€asked€about€their€views€and€aboutÐ [ ’ Ðthe€extent€of€discrimination€to€which€they€felt€they€were€subjected.€€SheÐ  U Ðwould€also€like€to€know€why,€for€a€woman€who€had€been€dismissed€from€her€job,Ð á  Ðthe€remedy€of€reinstatement€was€contemplated€in€the€Disability€Ordinance,€butÐ ¤ Û  Ðnot€in€the€Sex€Discrimination€Ordinance,€and€why€different€amounts€ofÐ g ž  Ðcompensation€were€accorded€under€the€two€Ordinances.€Ð * a  ÐÌ77.à b àòòMrs.€CHANETóó€said€that€in€answering€the€question€on€the€state€of€emergencyÐ °ç  Ðprovisions,€the€delegation€had€referred€to€article€39€of€the€Basic€Law,€which,Ð sª  Ðit€had€said,€must€be€read€in€conjunction€with€article€18.€€Article€39€wasÐ 6m  Ðextremely€general,€however,€while€article€18€dealt€with€specific€cases.€€SheÐ ù0  Ðwould€welcome€further€information€on€how€the€respective€provisions€operatedÐ ¼ó  Ðinthe€context€of€a€state€of€emergency.Ð ¶  ÐÌÌà@éé&“àòòThe€meeting€rose€at€6.05€p.m.óóÔ €ª£Ô