’WPCR  "(yō* …mž’”Ž‰?|ė;Œ€5ƒõȞ…gž__Ŗ"źSüŽsxE¦M ÖNdĆĄ89‹»ĪØ\†ŠWĻ÷ķĻŒV¼ˆžŚö°Ż‰y¤±»ØG:ä+‰#N¾æŪŅ‘ו |O8Fz…ÅRżšUA‚d·†:Ł¤O÷›[üģtČ+Ģ_įĶj™‰«•‹ū·Ž6Ļ°Ų„eŹ1Dļ\ž ®õÅC’©+ ĮśV¹;Ł/1¦ OÕN y6<¾“üevļMxļ×*„ū'“kf(å ūz J=cص8U›Vd‰VRīłši°?j³S[~J»Ā?¹ńLY¹ E)-÷i«‰~mŃõ†ű ›:WśĖ3$Łå¼[óQū½<˜žŽ5üā`–«šˆ(…=|g†8µL;®±Ÿ ĮŃ÷ņø‰y@óŹsæėqJ›ģ7 Å N—X¶]¢ĻƒrCf ŹeEyƒĀŠķ(£}Żj‚ūŖĻ„›/=Ōā-x¬Ą§_7’Śé3ńSYNG†ŽØ©4Aė’÷tķ֚GƒĶØ`2Ž«ńĀUXy&eēłŦ2ŅT6…ćŅ¦#~ķ!q×„=D†g„•1 tzM|ŽMņ‡„ŻNČhJœ`#É@UN %W 0:] ^ — w£ 4§ » Ź mĢ ć N’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ B      04 ˜\\YORK_UNIVERSITY\q_hrts_hp4000tnŅV,,,,ŅV0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,Ō¹\1— řE1īCOREL3|xc’U‹’ĄĄĄ Kowloon d&c$"š"šą0 ąŻ ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņŌ‡¼a`»XXŌUNITED€KINGDOM€OF€GREAT€BRITAIN€AND€NORTHERN€IRELANDó óŠ ° ŠĢŌ#†X Ž Š(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/1/Add.35)€submitted€in€reply€to€the€questions€which€had€been€put€by€the€CommitteeŠ ' w Šduring€the€consideration€of€the€initial€report€at€the€69ņņthóó€and€70ņņthóó€meetings.€€The€Committee€alsoŠ  ` Šconsidered€the€third€part€of€the€initial€report€concerning€the€Channel€Islands€and€the€Isle€of€ManŠ ł I Šreproduced€in€document€Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/1/Add.39.Š ā 2  ŠĢ229.€€Several€members€made€comments€and€put€questions€concerning€the€implementation€of€theŠ “  ŠCovenant€in€the€United€Kingdom,€particularly€in€respect€of€equality€of€rights€and€the€commitmentŠ ķ  Šundertaken€by€States€parties€in€accordance€with€article€2€of€the€Covenant€to€respect€and€to€ensureŠ †Ö  Što€all€individuals€in€their€territories€the€rights€recognized€in€the€Covenant€without€distinction€of€anyŠ oæ  Škind.€€Noting€that€there€was€a€category€of€citizens€in€the€United€Kingdom€who€by€virtue€of€theirŠ XØ  Šbirth€had€an€absolute€right€€to€become€members€of€the€House€of€Lords€and€that,€in€connection€withŠ A‘ Šnominations€to€certain€posts,€there€were€restrictions€based€on€the€nationality€not€only€of€theŠ *z Šcandidates€but€also€parents€of€candidates,€members€asked€how€could€that€be€reconciled€with€theŠ c Šprovisions€of€article€25€of€the€Covenant€which€stipulated€that€citizens€were€entitled€on€equal€termsŠ üL Što€have€access€to€all€political€bodies€and€to€participate€in€public€affairs€without€any€distinction€based,Š å5 Šņņinter€aliaóó,€on€birth.€€In€this€connection€one€member€noted€that€although€there€was€no€statute€law€inŠ Ī Šthe€matter,€Governments€in€the€United€Kingdom€had€always€been€formed€on€a€party€basis€wherebyŠ · Šthe€political€party€winning€the€elections€formed€the€Government€from€its€members€and€thus€theŠ  š Špossibility€of€participating€in€public€affairs€was€predicted€on€membership€in€either€the€ConservativeŠ ‰Ł Šor€Labour€Parties€which€did€not€sŌ_ŌeemŌ_Ō€to€have€major€differences€over€the€political€and€economicŠ rĀ Šfoundations€of€the€system.Š [« ŠĢÓ  Ó230.€€The€question€was€repeatedly€asked€as€to€whether€there€were€court€decisions€or€specific€lawsŠ -} Šwhich€expressly€provided€against€discrimination€of€any€sort€and€for€the€absolute€equality€of€rightsŠ f Šenunciated€in€articles€2€and€3€of€the€Covenant,€as€in€the€absence€of€judicial€decisions€or€legalŠ ’O Šprovisions,€it€would€be€difficult€for€the€Committee€to€ascertain€the€extent€to€which€the€provisionsŠ č 8 Šof€those€articles€were€being€applied€in€the€United€Kingdom.€€In€this€connection,€it€was€asked€whetherŠ Ń!!  Šthe€United€Kingdom€Government€contemplated€a€change€in€the€existing€rules€regarding€transmissionŠ ŗ" ! Šof€nationality€by€either€parent.€€Stressing€the€relationship€of€his€question€to€the€independence€of€theŠ £#ó" Šjudiciary€provided€for€in€article€14,€one€member€asked€whether€a€large€part€of€the€population€wasŠ Œ$Ü# Šnot€excluded€in€practice€by€such€factors€as€the€costly€educational€process€required€to€gain€the€abilityŠ u%Å $ Što€become€a€judge€and€whether€women€could€become€judges,€particularly€in€the€higher€courts.€€With€Š ^&®!% ŠÓŖƒÓĢ___________Š 0(€#' Šņņó󀀀€ņņ9óó/€€€The€initial€report€by€the€United€Kingdom€was€considered€by€the€Committee€at€its€67ņņthóó,€69ņņthóó€andŠ )i$( Š70ņņthóó€meetings,€on€30€and€31€January€and€1€February€1978€respectively,€see€Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.67,€69€andŠ *R%) Š70€and€ņņOfficial€Records€of€the€General€Assembly,€Thirty„third€Session,€Supplement€No.€€40óóŠ ė*;&* Š(A/33/40),€paras.€€184„226.Š Ō+$'+ ŠĢreference€to€articles€2€and€25€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€also€noted€that€members€of€the€armed€forcesŠ ¦-ö(- ŠŌ_Ōcould€not€participate€in€the€conduct€of€political€affairs€and€the€question€was€asked€whether€thereŠ ° Šwere€others€who€could€not€do€so€because€of€their€official€status.Š ™é ŠĢ231.€€The€representative€of€the€United€Kingdom€explained€the€limited€role€which€the€House€of€LordsŠ k» Šplayed€in€the€constitutional€structure€of€the€United€Kingdom.€€It€had,€he€said,€for€centuries€been€anŠ T¤ Šinherent€part€of€the€British€constitutional€structure.€€The€real€avenue€for€political€activity€was€theŠ =  ŠHouse€of€Commons€and€not€the€House€of€Lords.€€He€emphasized€that,€when€the€United€KingdomŠ & v Šhad€considered€the€possibility€of€ratifying€the€Covenant,€the€legislation€and€British€constitutionalŠ  _ Šorganization€had€been€studied€closely€and€the€conclusion€had€been€reached€that€the€situation€wasŠ ų H Šin€keeping€with€the€provisions€of€article€25€of€the€Covenant.€€He€pointed€out€that€in€recent€years€theŠ į 1  Šhereditary€elements€of€the€House€of€Lords€had€been€diluted€by€the€nomination€of€life€peersŠ Ź   Šdesignated€by€the€crown€on€the€recommendation€of€the€Government.€In€reality,€the€existence€of€theŠ ³  ŠHouse€of€Lords€in€no€way€affected€the€right€of€citizens€to€take€part€in€the€conduct€of€public€affairsŠ œģ  Šwithout€discrimination€of€any€kind.€€With€regard€to€the€question€of€access€to€public€service,€he€statedŠ …Õ  Šthat€the€requirements€established€in€the€nationality€rule€imposed€no€distinction€based€on€birth€orŠ n¾  Šnationality,€but€were€designed€to€ensure€that€those€who€became€involved€in€public€administration,Š W§  Šin€addition€to€being€citizens,€should€have€direct€ties€or€reasonable€links€with€the€country.€€As€regardsŠ @ Šthe€party€system€on€which€governments€were€based€in€the€United€Kingdom,€he€pointed€out€that€inŠ )y Šthis€country€everyone€enjoyed€the€freedom€to€form€other€political€parties,€such€as€the€CommunistŠ b ŠParty,€and€that€all€parties€had€one€common€characteristic,€because€they€performed€their€activitiesŠ ūK Šwithin€the€democratic€system,€but€the€policies€they€advocated€were€fundamentally€different.€€In€anŠ ä4 Šelection€in€which€all€parties€were€free€to€participate€and€use€the€mass€media,€it€was€evident€that€ifŠ Ķ Ša€party€did€not€win€it€was€because€the€electorate€did€not€wish€to€vote€for€it.Š ¶ ŠĢ232.€€As€to€the€question€of€discrimination€he€indicated€that€if€a€person€considered€that€his€rights€setŠ ˆŲ Šforth€in€article€25€of€the€Covenant€had€been€violated€he€could€invoke€laws€which€specificallyŠ qĮ Šreferred€to€discrimination€on€grounds€of€race,€sex€or€marital€status€or€could€challenge€the€authorityŠ ZŖ Šof€the€person€who€prevented€him€from€exercising€his€right.€€Replying€to€other€questions€concerningŠ C“ Šequality€of€rights,€he€indicated€that,€although€a€small€change€had€been€made€by€administrative€actionŠ ,| Šaffecting€the€Home€Secretaryššs€discretion,€no€legislation€providing€for€equal€transmission€ofŠ e Šnationality€by€matrilineal€succession€in€the€United€Kingdom€had€yet€been€introduced.€€He€said€thatŠ žN Šmost€criminal€cases€were€judge€by€lay€persons€but€the€judges€of€the€higher€courts€were€selected€fromŠ ē 7 Šthe€Bar.€€To€become€a€member€of€the€Bar,€it€was€only€necessary€to€pass€the€required€examination.€Š Š!   ŠMorever,€access€to€universities€was€open€to€all€and€there€was€a€wide€system€of€State€scholarships.€Š ¹" ! ŠHe€also€stated€that€there€were€some€women€high„court€judges;€and€that€in€addition€to€members€ofŠ ¢#ņ" Šthe€armed€forces,€there€was€a€limitation€on€participation€in€the€conduct€of€political€affairs€on€the€partŠ ‹$Ū# Šof€members€of€the€civil€service€or€the€diplomatic€service.€€The€criterion€applied€affected€the€fact€thatŠ t%Ä $ Šmembers€of€both€services€offered€their€services€to€the€Government€and€not€to€the€political€party€inŠ ]&­!% Špower,€and€that€they€must€therefore€be€able€to€act€with€absolute€impartiality.€Š F'–"& ŠĢ233.€€The€fact€that€the€United€Kingdom€did€not€have€a€written€Constitution€and€that€the€CovenantŠ )h$( Šwas€not€part€of€its€internal€law€continued€to€give€rise€to€various€comments€and€questions€byŠ *Q%) Šmembers€of€the€Committee,€especially€since€the€reports€submitted€were€found€not€to€refer€to€theŠ ź*:&* Šlegislative€texts€and€judicial€decisions€which€the€Government€claimed€reflected€the€rights€andŠ Ó+#'+ Šfreedoms€provided€for€in€the€Covenant.€Some€members€thought€it€was€not€enough€simply€toŠ ¼, (, Šmaintain€that€the€State€proceeded€on€the€assumption€that€its€legal€system€was€compatible€with€theŠ „-õ(- ŠCovenant.€Members€asked,€therefore,€the€extent€to€which€the€Committee€could€determine€whetherŠ ° Šthe€laws€and€court€decisions€were€or€were€not€compatible€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€andŠ ™é Šhow€an€individual€could€enjoy€the€rights€guaranteed€by€the€Covenant€if€its€provisions€were€not€madeŠ ‚Ņ Špart€of€the€law€of€the€land€and€could€not€be€invoked€in€the€courts.€Given€the€complete€independenceŠ k» Šenjoyed€by€the€courts€of€the€United€Kingdom,€members€asked€what€guarantees€there€were€for€theŠ T¤ Šapplication€by€the€courts€of€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and,€if€a€court€decision€was€reached€inŠ =  Šviolation€of€those€provisions,€what€direct€and€specific€protection€was€available€to€an€individual€whoŠ & v Šwas€deprived€of€a€right€laid€down€in€an€international€instrument€ratified€by€his€Government.€NotingŠ  _ Šthat€in€accordance€with€the€principle€of€parliamentary€supremacy€the€British€Parliament€could€makeŠ ų H Šany€law€and€no€court€could€question€its€action,€one€member€asked€how€an€effective€remedy€couldŠ į 1  Šbe€provided€in€the€absence€of€a€bill€of€rights,€if€a€citizen€who€might€wish€to€raise€a€questionŠ Ź   Šregarding€a€law€would€not€be€able€to€get€a€court€to€hold€a€legislative€act€invalid.Š ³  ŠĢ234.€€Replying€to€these€comments€and€questions,€the€representative€stated€that€while€there€was€littleŠ …Õ  Šor€no€written€law€in€respect€of€constitutional€organization,€there€were€indeed€written€laws€coveringŠ n¾  Šall€the€remaining€areas€and€those€laws€had€to€be€applied€by€the€courts.€As€far€as€the€implementationŠ W§  Šof€the€Covenant€was€concerned,€he€did€not€share€the€opinion€that,€under€article€2,€paragraph€2€of€theŠ @ ŠCovenant,€a€State€party€had€expressly€to€make€the€Covenant€part€of€its€internal€law.€What€matteredŠ )y Šwas€the€treatment€that€people€received€and€the€way€in€which€the€law€worked€in€practice.€Anyone€inŠ b Šthe€United€Kingdom€could€consult€the€laws,€observe€the€operation€of€the€courts€and€ascertain€inŠ ūK Šperson€or€by€reading€the€newspapers€whether€the€rights€and€freedoms€laid€down€in€the€CovenantŠ ä4 Šwere€being€respected.€In€this€connection,€he€stated€that€the€Parliament€would€enact€a€law€to€annulŠ Ķ Šany€judgement€that€may€be€rendered€by€a€court€in€violation€of€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€HeŠ ¶ Šcontended€that€there€was€no€way,€short€of€introducing€radical€changes€in€the€Constitution,€in€whichŠ Ÿļ Ša€bill€of€rights€could€be€enacted€in€such€a€way€as€to€make€those€rights€directly€actionable.€Moreover,Š ˆŲ Šthere€was€no€way€of€judging€the€constitutionality€of€an€act€of€Parliament.€In€the€last€resort,€theŠ qĮ Šoperation€of€the€United€Kingdomššs€Constitution€depended€on€the€fact€that,€to€a€great€extent,€it€wasŠ ZŖ Šunwritten€and€on€the€deep€appreciation€of€their€rights€by€the€citizenry€as€a€whole.Š C“ ŠĢ235.€€Members€of€the€Committee€expressed€concern€at€the€continued€derogation€of€the€UnitedŠ e ŠKingdom€under€article€4,€from€articles€9,€10,€12,€17,€21€and€22€of€the€Covenant€and€requestedŠ žN Šclarification€as€to€the€reasons€for€and€extent€of€such€derogations,€bearing€in€mind€the€conditions€laidŠ ē 7 Šdown€in€article€4.€It€was€felt€that€it€was€the€duty€of€the€Committee€to€ascertain€whether€there€wasŠ Š!   Šjustification€for€each€and€every€derogation€under€that€article.€They€noted€that€the€United€KingdomŠ ¹" ! Šdid€not€derogate€from€article€14€of€the€Covenant€concerning€the€right€to€a€fair€trial,€and€that€noŠ ¢#ņ" Šderogation€from€article€7,€prohibiting€torture€or€degrading€treatment,€may€be€made€under€article€4.Š ‹$Ū# ŠNevertheless,€according€to€one€member,€it€was€found€by€the€Bennett€Committee€on€PoliceŠ t%Ä $ ŠInterrogation€Procedure€in€Northern€Ireland€that€in€many€cases€people€under€interrogation€hadŠ ]&­!% Šsuffered€injuries€that€were€not€self„inflicted€and€that,€in€an€unusually€large€number€of€cases,Š F'–"& Šconvictions€had€been€obtained€as€a€result€of€confessions€where€it€was€not€possible€to€have€a€detailedŠ /(#' Šrecord€of€the€whole€process€of€interrogation.€It€was€asked€whether,€when€the€Bennett€Committee€hadŠ )h$( Šbeen€appointed,€its€attention€had€been€directed€to€the€obligations€of€the€United€Kingdom€under€theŠ *Q%) ŠCovenant€and€what€was€meant€by€the€statement€in€the€supplementary€report€that€š šobtaining€evidenceŠ ź*:&* Šimproperly€[was]€not€in€itself€a€criminal€offencešš,€but€simply€an€administrative€breach€sanctionedŠ Ó+#'+ Šby€disciplinary€action,€since€the€word€improper€might€in€this€context€encompass€the€use€of€torture.Š ¼, (, ŠIn€this€connexion,€questions€were€asked€as€to€what€provisions€existed€to€ensure€that€immigrants€wereŠ „-õ(- Šnot€subject€to€indignities€or€to€practices€endangering€their€health€and€what€criteria€were€used€in€theŠ ° ŠUnited€Kingdom€to€determine€mental€illness€for€persons€in€custody.€As€regards€everyoneššs€right€toŠ ™é Šliberty€and€security€of€person,€questions€were€asked€on€whether€there€were€safeguards€regarding€theŠ ‚Ņ Šlength€of€time€detainees€could€be€held€for€questioning;€to€what€extent€ņņhabeas€corpusóó€or€equivalentŠ k» Šremedies€could€be€effective€if,€as€was€the€case€of€Northern€Ireland,€persons€could€be€arrested€by€theŠ T¤ Špolice€without€a€warrant€on€the€mere€suspicion€of€being€terrorists€and€detained€for€up€to€72€hours;Š =  Što€what€extent€did€the€Police€Complaints€Board€investigate€complaints€made€by€a€detainee€regardingŠ & v Šinjuries;€and€what€was€the€proportion€of€cases€taken€to€the€Director€of€Public€Prosecutions€on€whichŠ  _ Šaffirmative€action,€in€the€form€of€actual€prosecution,€had€been€taken.€It€was€also€asked,€in€relationŠ ų H Što€article€20€of€the€Covenant,€whether€a€refusal€on€the€part€of€the€Attorney„General€to€give€hisŠ į 1  Šconsent€for€a€prosecution€on€incitement€to€racial€hatred€had€to€be€substantiated€by€fact€and€by€law.Š Ź   ŠĢ236.€€Replying€to€these€comments€and€questions,€the€representative€stated€that€there€existed€in€hisŠ œģ  Šcountry€a€public€emergency€which€threatened€the€life€of€the€nation€and€resulted€from€anŠ …Õ  Šextraordinary€attack€aimed€at€bringing€about€forcible€change€in€the€relationship€of€Northern€IrelandŠ n¾  Šwith€the€United€Kingdom€Government.€He€stated€that€the€Bennett€Committee,€while€acknowledgingŠ W§  Šthat€it€was€sometimes€necessary€and€lawfully€permissible€for€police€officers€to€restrain€prisoners€inŠ @ Šorder€to€defend€themselves,€had€made€a€number€of€recommendations€for€improving€the€control€andŠ )y Šsupervision€of€the€interrogation€process€and€that€the€Government€accepted€its€broad€conclusions€andŠ b Šendorsed€its€approach.€He€pointed€out€that€the€statement€in€the€report€with€regard€to€obtainingŠ ūK Ševidence€improperly€did€not€mean€that€the€use€of€torture€or€assault€for€this€purpose€was€not€aŠ ä4 Šcriminal€offence;€that€there€were€numerous€ways€of€obtaining€evidence€improperly€and€that€merelyŠ Ķ Što€do€so€was€a€breach€of€police€orders€rather€than€a€criminal€offence.€As€to€the€question€of€treatmentŠ ¶ Šof€immigrants,€he€explained€the€health€examination€procedure€for€immigrants€and€stated€thatŠ Ÿļ Šimmigration€officers€were€expressly€instructed€to€carry€out€their€duties€without€regard€to€the€race,Š ˆŲ Šcolour€or€religion€of€people€seeking€to€enter€the€United€Kingdom.€He€also€explained€the€specificŠ qĮ Šregulation€of€admission€to€mental€hospitals,€including€the€provision€for€a€review€of€the€condition€ofŠ ZŖ Špatients€by€independent€mental€health€tribunals,€and€pointed€to€the€various€powers€of€the€criminalŠ C“ Šcourts€in€relation€to€accused€persons€deemed€to€be€suffering€from€mental€illness.€As€to€the€questionŠ ,| Šof€ņņhabeas€corpusóó€and€the€power€to€arrest€without€a€warrant,€he€said€that€it€would€be€an€answer€to€aŠ e Šwrit€of€ņņhabeas€corpusóó€that€the€defendant€had€exercised€a€statutory€power€but€that€the€main€objectiveŠ žN Šof€such€a€writ€would€be€to€inhibit€the€purported€use€of€powers€which€did€not€exist;€that€the€functionŠ ē 7 Šof€the€Police€Complaints€Board€was€not€to€investigate€complaints€at€the€first€instance,€but€rather€toŠ Š!   Šmonitor€the€investigation€of€complaints;€that€whenever€there€was€suspicion€or€evidence€that€aŠ ¹" ! Špoliceman€was€guilty€of€a€criminal€offence,€the€Director€of€Public€Prosecutions€became€responsibleŠ ¢#ņ" Šfor€dealing€with€the€matter€and€that€in€exercising€his€functions,€the€latter€was€an€independent€officer,Š ‹$Ū# Šfree€from€political€direction,€although€his€conduct€came€within€the€over„all€responsibility€of€theŠ t%Ä $ ŠAttorney„General,€a€member€of€the€Government€of€the€day.Š ]&­!% ŠĢ237.€€With€reference€to€freedom€of€expression€and€association€provided€for€in€articles€19€and€22€ofŠ /(#' Šthe€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€requested€further€details€concerning€the€procedures€underŠ )h$( Šwhich€an€individual€or€organization€might€complain€of€unfair€treatment€or€misrepresentation€in€aŠ *Q%) Šbroadcast€and€asked€whether€the€procedures€were€judicial€or€administrative;€whether€the€UnitedŠ ź*:&* ŠKingdom€Government€did€not€consider€the€very€existence€of€a€racist€organization€incompatible€withŠ Ó+#'+ Šthe€provisions€of€the€Covenant;€and€whether€trade€unions€were€permitted€to€operate€inside€theŠ ¼, (, Šfactory€in€which€their€members€worked.€Referring€to€the€closed„shop€system,€one€member€expressedŠ „-õ(- Šthe€view€that,€even€if€this€system€could€be€reconciled€with€freedom€of€association,€it€made€theŠ ° Šindividual€dependent€on€his€trade€union€and€subject€to€abuses€that€could€occur.€He€inquired€as€toŠ ™é Šwhether€a€worker€who€opposed€the€illegal€actions€of€a€shop€steward€during€a€labour€dispute€wouldŠ ‚Ņ Šbe€dismissed€from€his€job€and,€if€so,€what€was€the€Government€doing€to€prevent€such€abuses.Š k» ŠĢ238.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€referred€to€the€different€procedures€applied€so€far€by€the€twoŠ =  Šbodies€licensed€to€transmit€public€programmes€in€the€United€Kingdom€concerning€individualŠ & v Šcomplaints€against€their€programmes€and€referred€to€a€recently€published€paper€by€his€GovernmentŠ  _ Šwhereby€a€single€complaints€commission€should€be€established€for€the€entire€public€broadcastingŠ ų H Šsystem.€As€regards€racist€organizations,€his€Government€viewed€an€organization€not€so€much€in€theŠ į 1  Šlight€of€what€it€was€as€of€what€it€did.€If€such€an€organization€offended€the€law€on€racial€hatred€orŠ Ź   Šdiscrimination,€it€would€come€within€the€terms€of€the€law.€Concerning€trade€unions,€he€stated€thatŠ ³  Šthey€did€operate€inside€factories;€that€his€Government€did€not€consider€the€closed„shop€system€toŠ œģ  Šbe€an€infringement€of€the€Covenant.€The€matter€had,€in€fact,€come€before€the€European€CommissionŠ …Õ  Šof€Human€Rights€and,€if€the€Commission€came€to€a€different€conclusion€that€would€have€to€be€takenŠ n¾  Šinto€consideration€or€if€the€Conservative€Party€came€to€power,€the€system€might€eventually€beŠ W§  Šmodified.Š @ ŠĢ239.€€With€reference€to€the€initial€report€submitted€by€the€United€Kingdom€concerning€the€ChannelŠ b ŠIslands€and€the€Isle€of€Man€(CCPR/C/1/Add.39),€the€obligation€of€the€United€Kingdom€under€articleŠ ūK Š1€of€the€Covenant€was€of€special€concern€to€members€of€the€Committee€since€it€did€not€seemŠ ä4 Šjustifiable€to€speak€of€dependence€19€years€after€the€colonial€system€had€collapsed.€Questions€wereŠ Ķ Šasked€on€how€the€United€Kingdom€interpreted€the€requirement€to€š špromotešš€the€realization€of€theŠ ¶ Šright€to€self„determination;€why€had€€so€much€time€elapsed€without€those€territories€choosingŠ Ÿļ Šindependence;€how€had€the€people€expressed€their€desire€not€to€be€independent;€were€thereŠ ˆŲ Šeconomic€or€military€reasons€for€the€United€Kingdom€to€retain€control€of€those€islands,€whether€theŠ qĮ Šterritorial€waters€and€resource€margins€of€the€Channel€Islands€and€Isle€of€Man€had€been€defined;€andŠ ZŖ Šwhether€it€was€the€United€Kingdom€or€the€Islands€themselves€that€maintained€sovereignty€overŠ C“ Šthem.Š ,| ŠĢ240.€€As€regards€article€3€of€the€Covenant,€information€was€requested€on€the€current€status€of€womenŠ žN Šin€the€islands,€including€the€right€to€vote€and€to€run€for€election€and€on€the€extent€to€which€the€lawsŠ ē 7 Šof€the€Channel€Islands€were€at€variance€with€the€requirements€of€that€article.Š Š!   ŠĢ241.€With€reference€to€article€4€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether€the€emergency€powers€hadŠ ¢#ņ" Šbeen€extended€to€the€Island€of€Jersey€as€a€result€of€a€unilateral€decision€by€the€United€KingdomŠ ‹$Ū# Šauthorities€or€as€a€result€of€the€express€wishes€of€the€Island€concerned.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ242.€€As€regards€the€implementation€of€the€provisions€of€articles€6,€7,€9,€10,€13,€14€and€17€of€theŠ F'–"& ŠCovenant€questions€were€asked€as€to€what€crimes€were€sanctioned€by€the€death€penalty;€whether€theŠ /(#' ŠUnited€Kingdom€Government€did€not€consider€corporal€punishment€to€be€degrading€treatmentŠ )h$( Šprohibited€in€accordance€with€article€7€of€the€Covenant;€whether€accused€persons€were€segregatedŠ *Q%) Šfrom€convicted€persons;€whether€accused€juveniles€were€separated€from€adults€and€brought€forŠ ź*:&* Šadjudication€as€speedily€as€possible;€whether€members€of€the€family€were€deported€with€the€personŠ Ó+#'+ Šconcerned€;and€whether€the€provisions€concerning€compensation€for€persons€convicted€of€criminalŠ ¼, (, Šoffences€but€later€exonerated€were€in€conformity€with€the€letter€and€spirit€of€article€14€of€theŠ „-õ(- ŠCovenant.Š ° ŠĢ243.€€In€relation€to€the€implementation€of€the€right€of€peaceful€assembly€in€Jersey,€it€was€askedŠ ‚Ņ Šwhether€this€right€was€still€subject€to€the€provisions€of€the€law€promulgated€in€1797.€As€to€the€rightŠ k» Šof€participation€in€the€conduct€of€public€affairs€provided€for€in€article€25€of€the€Covenant,€it€wasŠ T¤ Šasked€whether€this€right€was€still€governed€in€Jersey,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€by€the€provisions€of€the€lawŠ =  Špromulgated€in€1897.€With€reference€to€the€Isle€of€Man,€information€was€requested€on€the€mannerŠ & v Šof€election€of€the€Legislative€Council€and€on€the€statutory€exceptions€to€which€eligibility€forŠ  _ Šelections€and€membership€of€the€House€of€Keys€was€subject.Š ų H ŠĢ244.€€In€reply€to€questions€under€article€1€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€of€the€United€KingdomŠ Ź   Šstated€that€the€Islands€had€always€enjoyed€a€considerable€degree€of€independence;€that€the€UnitedŠ ³  ŠKingdom€Government€was€not€opposed€in€principle€to€a€movement€towards€greater€autonomy,Š œģ  Šprovided€its€own€responsibilities€were€not€put€at€risk;€that€there€was€no€request€from€the€inhabitantsŠ …Õ  Šof€the€Islands€for€complete€independence;€and€that€if€there€were€great€political€movement€forŠ n¾  Šindependence,€the€United€Kingdom€Government€would€consider€it€seriously.Š W§  ŠĢ245.€€With€regard€to€the€application€of€emergency€laws€in€the€Channel€Islands,€he€pointed€out€thatŠ )y Šfor€emergencies€of€a€civil€nature,€the€local€legislation€applied.€United€Kingdom€legislation€onŠ b Šterrorism€was€applied€in€the€Islands€in€consultation€with€their€authorities.Š ūK ŠĢ246.€€Replying€to€questions€under€articles€6,€7,€9,€10,€13,€14€and€17€of€the€Covenant,€he€indicatedŠ Ķ Šthat,€whereas€Guernsey€had€abolished€the€death€penalty€for€murder,€Jersey€retained€it€for€murder€andŠ ¶ Šthe€Isle€of€Man€retained€it€for€murder,€treason€and€genocide;€that€corporal€punishment€still€existedŠ Ÿļ Šin€the€legislation€of€the€Channel€Islands,€but,€in€the€light€of€the€findings€of€the€European€Court,€itŠ ˆŲ Šis€unlikely€that€the€judicial€authorities€of€these€Islands€would€impose€such€sentences€any€longer;€thatŠ qĮ Šthe€main€reason€for€deporting€the€family€along€with€the€individual€concerned€was€to€keep€the€familyŠ ZŖ Štogether;€that€his€Government€considered€the€practice€concerning€compensation€for€personsŠ C“ Šconvicted€of€criminal€offences€but€later€exonerated€to€be€in€accord€with€the€spirit€of€the€CovenantŠ ,| Šand€that€it€would€see€whether€it€could€not€be€made€to€accord€more€closely€with€the€letter€also.Š e ŠĢ247.€€Replying€to€questions€under€article€22€and€25€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€pointed€outŠ ē 7 Šthat€the€right€to€peaceful€assembly€was€guaranteed€by€customary€law€and€that€the€application€of€theŠ Š!   Šlaw€promulgated€in€Jersey€in€1797€did€not€mean€that€the€holding€of€public€assemblies€authorized€byŠ ¹" ! Šlaw€and€by€custom€was€in€any€way€restricted.€The€representative€gave€more€details€concerning€theŠ ¢#ņ" Šelectoral€system€as€applied€in€the€Channel€Islands€and€the€Isle€of€Man.Š  ‹$Ū# Šņ ņCCPR€€A/34/40€(1979)ó óŠ ° ŠĢĢņņDependent€territoriesóóŠ l¼ ŠĢ300.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€part€€ņņ11óó/€€of€the€initial€report€submitted€by€the€UnitedŠ > Ž ŠKingdom€(CCPR/C/1/Add.37)€at€its€161ņņstóó,€162ņņndóó€and€164ņņthóó€meetings,€on€6€and€7€August€1979Š ' w Š(CCPR/C/SR.161,€162€and€164).€€The€report€covered€all€the€remaining€dependent€territoriesŠ  ` Šadministered€by€the€United€Kingdom€in€respect€of€which€the€Covenant€has€been€ratified.Š ł I ŠĢ301.€€In€introducing€the€report€the€representative€stated€that€document€CCPR/C/1/Add.37€containedŠ Ė   Šinformation€prepared€by€the€authorities€of€11€different€dependent€territories€for€which€the€UnitedŠ “  ŠKingdom€was€responsible.€€Since€1945,€when€the€Charter€of€the€United€Nations€formallyŠ ķ  Šacknowledged€the€principle€of€self„determination€for€colonial€peoples,€successive€BritishŠ †Ö  Šgovernments€had€given€every€help€and€encouragement€to€dependent€territories€wishing€to€becomeŠ oæ  Šindependent.€€To€that€end,€it€was€committed€to€the€creation€of€competent€political€and€economicŠ XØ  Šinstitutions€in€its€dependencies.€€At€the€same€time,€it€had€been€a€consistent€part€of€its€policy€that€noŠ A‘ Šterritory€should€be€forced€into€independence€against€the€will€of€its€population.€€That€policy€meantŠ *z Šthat,€subject€to€the€overriding€responsibility€for€good€Government,€the€United€Kingdom€GovernmentŠ c Šdid€not€seek€to€substitute€its€own€judgement€or€instructions€for€the€will€and€decisions€of€localŠ üL ŠGovernments€responsible€to€their€own€people.€€The€United€Kingdom€Government€considered€itŠ å5 Šproper€for€the€administering€power€not€to€interfere,€so€long€as€the€decision€was€arrived€at€by€theŠ Ī Špeople€of€a€territory€through€due€democratic€process,€and€as€long€as€it€did€not€offend€the€basicŠ · Šprinciples€of€the€Covenant.€€The€guiding€principle€of€the€Government€of€the€United€Kingdom€wasŠ  š Šthat€the€wishes€of€the€people€must€be€paramount.Š ‰Ł ŠĢ302.€€Each€of€the€territories€for€which€information€was€provided€had€its€own€separate€and€distinctŠ [« Šlegal€system.€€While€there€were€common€elements€there€were€also€many€differences€of€detail€andŠ D” Šoccasionally€even€of€principle,€depending€on€the€wishes€of€the€local€authorities.€The€fact€that€theŠ -} Šinformation€in€the€report€had€been€prepared€by€the€authorities€of€the€dependent€territories€themselvesŠ f Šwas€consistent€with€the€measures€of€autonomy€which€they€enjoyed.€€The€varying€substance€of€theŠ ’O Šreport€reflected€the€widely€varying€circumstances€of€the€territories€themselves.€€Some€were€smallŠ č 8 Šterritories€where€local€institutions€of€Government€were€still€very€simple;€others€were€largerŠ Ń!!  Šterritories€effectively€self„governing,€with€well€developed€democratic€institutions€and€with€theŠ ŗ" ! ŠUnited€Kingdomššs€responsibility€under€the€Constitution€now€confined€mainly€to€defence,€securityŠ £#ó" ŠandŠ Œ$Ü# ŠĢ_____________Š ^&®!% Šņņą  ą11óó/€€€The€first€and€third€parts€of€the€initial€report€and€the€supplementary€report€to€the€first€partŠ G'—"& Šwhich€covered€the€United€Kingdom€and€the€Channel€Islands€and€the€Isle€of€Man€respectively,€wereŠ 0(€#' Šconsidered€by€the€Committee€at€its€67ņņthóó,€69ņņthóó,€70ņņthóó,€147ņņthóó,€148ņņthóó€and€149ņņthóó€meetings€(CCPR/C/SR.67,Š )i$( Š69,€70,€147,€148,€149).€€See€paras.€228„247€above€and€ņņOfficial€Records€of€the€General€Assembly,Š *R%) ŠThirty„third€Session,€Supplement€No.€€40óó€(A/33/40),€paras.€184„226.€€The€Committee€was€informedŠ ė*;&* Šof€the€text€of€a€note€received€from€the€United€Kingdom€Mission€at€Geneva€to€the€effect€that€theŠ Ō+$'+ ŠGilbert€Islands€were€to€receive€their€independence€on€12€July€1979,€and€accordingly,€from€that€dateŠ ½, (, Šthe€United€Kingdom€Government€would€cease€to€have€any€responsibility€for€the€Gilbert€Islands.Š ¦-ö(- Š‡external€affairs.€€He€finally€pointed€out€that€his€delegation€did€not€expect€to€be€able€to€answer€thereŠ ° Šand€then€all€questions€which€required€a€detailed€knowledge€of€the€laws€and€practices€of€the€11Š ™é Šterritories€covered€by€the€report.€€Therefore,€as€on€past€occasions,€replies€to€questions€which€mightŠ ‚Ņ Šhave€to€be€referred€to€the€territories€concerned€would€be€submitted€in€writing€at€a€later€stage.Š k» ŠĢ303.€Members€of€the€Committee€expressed€their€appreciation€for€the€comprehensiveness€whichŠ =  Šcharacterized€the€report€under€consideration.€€Many€questions€centred€on€the€implementation€by€theŠ & v ŠUnited€Kingdom€of€the€right€of€peoples€to€self„determination€enshrined€in€article€1€of€the€Covenant.€Š  _ ŠReferences€were€made€to€the€statements€in€the€report€to€the€effect€that€it€was€the€policy€of€the€UnitedŠ ų H ŠKingdom€to€grant€independence€to€any€territory€which€sought€it€but€not€to€compel€any€into€it€andŠ į 1  Šsome€territories€had€not€expressed€a€wish€for€independence.€€Members€asked€how€could€people€beŠ Ź   Šcompelled€into€independence;€€were€there€people€who€struggled€against€independence€and€if€so,Š ³  Šwhere€and€how.€€It€was€stressed€that€continued€dependency€was€a€continued€violation€of€article€1Š œģ  Šof€the€Covenant€and€of€the€relevant€resolutions€of€the€General€Assembly€under€which€theŠ …Õ  Šadministering€powers€were€duty„bound€to€take€positive€steps€and€effective€measures€to€enable€theŠ n¾  Špeople€of€these€territories€to€decide€their€status€and€exercise€their€right€to€self„determination€and€toŠ W§  Šfull€control€over€their€natural€resources.€€In€this€respect,€it€was€observed€that€the€United€KingdomŠ @ Šinterpreted€its€obligations€in€a€passive€manner€and€did€not€make€any€effort€to€facilitate€the€exerciseŠ )y Šof€the€right€of€self„determination€by€the€peoples€of€the€territories.€€A€Green€paper€published€inŠ b ŠBermuda€in€1977€on€the€possible€advantages€and€disadvantages€of€an€eventual€independence€wasŠ ūK Šmentioned€as€a€typical€example€of€that€interpretation.€€Questions€were€asked€on€whether€theŠ ä4 ŠGovernment€consulted€regularly€and€democratically€the€peoples€of€the€dependent€territoriesŠ Ķ Šconcerning€their€wish€to€attain€independence€or€otherwise.Š ¶ ŠĢ304.€€Referring€to€statements€€in€the€report,€members€asked€which€constitutional€process€had€beenŠ ˆŲ Šfollowed€to€determine€that€the€population€in€the€Cayman€Islands€and€Pitcairn€did€not€wish€anyŠ qĮ Šconstitutional€changes€or€to€ascertain€the€true€wishes€in€this€respect€of€the€peoples€of€the€otherŠ ZŖ Šdependent€territories.€€More€information€was€requested€on€the€future€prospects€of€Hong€Kong€andŠ C“ ŠGibraltar€in€view€of€their€close€links€with€China€and€Spain€respectively,€and€of€Belize€and€theŠ ,| ŠFalkland€Islands€in€view€of€the€claims€thereto€by€Guatemala€and€Argentina€respectively.€€ReferringŠ e Što€the€British€Indian€Ocean€Territory€which€he€understood€to€be€a€new€dependent€territory€createdŠ žN Šin€1965€and€consisting€of€such€islands€as€Diego€Garcia€and€other€parts€of€the€Chagos€Archipelago,Š ē 7 Šone€member€expressed€concern€at€the€fate€of€the€people€who€used€to€live€there€and€asked€whetherŠ Š!   Šthese€people€had€the€right€to€return€to€the€place€of€their€birth;€whether€they€had€receivedŠ ¹" ! Šcompensation€for€their€property€when€they€were,€as€he€understood,€forcibly€removed€from€theirŠ ¢#ņ" Šislands:€and€whether€there€were€any€actions€before€the€courts€in€the€United€Kingdom€relating€to€theirŠ ‹$Ū# Šrights.€€With€regard€to€the€people€of€Ocean€Island€who€had€been€settled€elsewhere,€apparentlyŠ t%Ä $ Šagainst€their€will,€and€had€initiated€action€in€the€United€Kingdom€for€the€restoration€of€their€rights,Š ]&­!% Šit€was€asked€whether€that€island€formed€part€of€the€Gilbert€Islands€which€had€recently€obtainedŠ F'–"& Šindependence;€and€whether€the€inhabitants€had€been€consulted€in€this€regard.€€Information€was€alsoŠ /(#' Šrequested€on€the€status€of€the€New€Hebrides.Š )h$( ŠĢ305.€€Noting€that€people€had€the€inherent€right€not€only€to€be€aware€of€the€resource€margins€aroundŠ ź*:&* Štheir€territory€but€also€to€have€a€say€in€the€way€those€margins€were€exploited€and€that€because€ofŠ Ó+#'+ Štheir€geographical€characteristics€as€islands,€many€dependent€territories€had€important€prospects€forŠ ¼, (, Šeconomic€development,€one€member€asked€to€what€extent€the€interests€of€these€peoples€were€takenŠ „-õ(- Šinto€account€by€the€United€Kingdom€in€international€forums€such€as€the€United€Nations€ConferenceŠ ° Šon€the€Law€of€the€Sea;€whether€anything€was€being€done€to€make€the€people€of€the€dependentŠ ™é Šterritories€aware€of€their€rights;€and€who€represented€the€territories€in€the€event€of€a€conflict€betweenŠ ‚Ņ Šthe€rights€of€those€people€and€the€right€of€the€United€Kingdom€with€regard€to€the€principles€whichŠ k» Šought€to€apply€in€the€delimitation€of€resource€margins.Š T¤ ŠĢ306.€€As€regards€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€pointed€out€by€members€of€the€Committee€that€inŠ & v Šall€the€territories€covered€in€the€report€the€entire€administrative€and€judicial€structure€depended€onŠ  _ Šthe€power€vested€in€the€Governor€of€the€Territory€appointed€by€the€Queen€of€England;€that€so€longŠ ų H Šas€the€colonial€structure€persisted,€the€implementation€of€the€Covenant€must€remain€in€doubt€sinceŠ į 1  Šit€was€clear€that€the€peoples€of€these€territories€themselves€had€very€little€influence;€and€that€theŠ Ź   Šrelevant€Constitutional€Orders€did€not€fully€correspond€to€the€conception€of€the€Covenant€since€theyŠ ³  Šwere€much€narrower€in€their€impact€and€reflected€a€specific€political€model.€€In€this€connection,€andŠ œģ  Šwith€reference€to€a€statement€in€the€report€concerning€the€British€Virgin€Islands,€one€member€statedŠ …Õ  Šthat€it€was€of€the€highest€importance€that€fundamental€rights€be€written€into€the€Constitutions€of€theŠ n¾  Šdependent€territories.€€He€considered€that€it€was€the€responsibility€of€the€United€Kingdom€under€theŠ W§  ŠCovenant€to€ensure€that€these€rights€were€given€effect€in€law€and€not€simply€left€to€the€discretion€ofŠ @ Šthe€local€legislative€authorities€because€the€international€obligation€lay€with€the€United€KingdomŠ )y Šas€such€and€not€with€those€territories.€€Questions€were€asked€on€what€measures€had€been€taken€toŠ b Šensure€the€wide€publicity€of€the€text€of€the€Covenant€in€the€dependent€territories;€and€whether€theŠ ūK Šexpression€š šwidely€respected€and€protectedšš€used€in€the€report€to€describe€the€status€of€human€rightsŠ ä4 Šin€the€Cayman€Islands€meant€that€they€were€not€completely€respected.€€Noting€that€the€Covenant€didŠ Ķ Šnot€itself€have€the€force€of€law€in€the€territories,€members€asked€whether€it€could€nevertheless€beŠ ¶ Šinvolved€before€the€courts€and€which€law€prevailed€in€case€of€a€conflict€between€the€provisions€ofŠ Ÿļ Šthe€Covenant€and€those€of€the€domestic€legislation.€€In€this€connection€questions€were€asked€as€to€Š ˆŲ Šwhether€the€United€Kingdom€legislation€applied€automatically€in€the€non„autonomous€territories€andŠ qĮ Šwhat€happened€in€the€event€of€a€conflict€between€local€law€and€United€Kingdom€law.€€Referring€toŠ ZŖ Šthe€statement€in€the€report€that€the€Cayman€Islands€were€bound€by€the€European€Convention€onŠ C“ ŠHuman€Rights,€members€asked€whether€the€European€Convention€was€also€applicable€to€the€otherŠ ,| Šdependent€territories.Š e ŠĢ307.€€Noting€that€the€Bermuda€Constitution€Order€1968€appeared€to€permit€discrimination€based€onŠ ē 7 Šsex,€that€the€report€on€the€British€Virgin€Islands€indicated€that€it€was€possible€for€individuals€to€bringŠ Š!   Šaction€against€officials€and€that€such€proceedings€were€regulated€by€the€Crown„ProceedingsŠ ¹" ! ŠOrdinances,€members€asked€whether€such€actions€were€possible€in€all€the€territories,€and€if€so,Š ¢#ņ" Šwhether€there€were€restrictions€placed€on€litigants€in€terms€of€time€and€procedure€and€whether€thereŠ ‹$Ū# Šwere,€in€those€proceedings,€restrictions€that€did€not€exist€in€cases€brought€by€one€citizen€againstŠ t%Ä $ Šanother.Š ]&­!% ŠĢ308.€€With€reference€to€article€3€of€the€Covenant,€one€member€noted€that€the€reports€on€most€of€theŠ /(#' Šdependent€territories€were€silent€on€its€implementation.€€It€was€however€also€observed€that€theŠ )h$( ŠBermuda€Constitution€Order€1968€appeared€to€permit€discrimination€based€on€sex.€€Information€wasŠ *Q%) Šrequested€on€the€steps€taken€by€the€United€Kingdom€to€ensure€equality€between€men€and€womenŠ ź*:&* Šand€on€the€number€of€women€officials€in€the€executive,€legislative€and€judicial€bodies€of€theŠ Ó+#'+ Šterritories;€and€the€number€of€women€doctors,€professors€and€other€professionals.€€The€question€wasŠ ¼, (, Šalso€asked€as€to€whether€women€leaving€or€entering€the€territories€were€subjected€to€specialŠ „-õ(- Šrestrictions€and,€if€so,€whether€such€control€was€conducted€by€the€officials€concerned€on€specialŠ ° Šinstructions€from€the€Government.€€In€this€connection,€it€was€asked€whether€any€distinction€wasŠ ™é Šmade€between€citizens€of€the€United€Kingdom€and€those€of€the€territories.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ309.€€With€respect€to€article€4€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€noted€that€most€reports€of€the€territories€didŠ T¤ Šnot€make€any€reference€to€the€implementation€of€this€article.€€However,€article€14€of€the€ConstitutionŠ =  ŠOrdinance€1968€of€Bermuda€contained€provisions€for€time€of€war€or€emergency€which€seemed€toŠ & v Šbe€of€a€wider€scope€than€those€provided€for€in€the€Covenant,€while€article€16€of€the€Constitution€ofŠ  _ ŠGibralter€was€rather€vague€in€this€regard.€€Questions€were€asked€as€to€what€were€the€effects€of€anŠ ų H Šemergency€on€fundamental€rights€and€freedoms;€whether€these€provisions€had€been€applied€to€theseŠ į 1  Štwo€territories;€and€whether€similar€provisions€existed€in€the€other€territories.€Š Ź   ŠĢ310.€€In€respect€of€article€6€of€the€Covenant€questions€were€asked€on€the€rate€of€infant€mortality€inŠ œģ  Šthe€territories€as€compared€with€the€rate€in€the€United€Kingdom;€and€whether€there€was€any€prospectŠ …Õ  Šof€the€abolition€of€the€death€penalty€in€the€territories.€€Clarification€was€requested€regarding€theŠ n¾  Šlength€of€what€was€described€as€detention€š šduring€Her€Majestyššs€pleasurešš,€which€was€stated€in€theŠ W§  Šreport€on€Bermuda€to€be€in€lieu€of€the€sentence€of€death€pronounced€on€a€person€who€was€under€18Š @ Šyears€of€age.€€Referring€to€the€report€on€the€Turks€and€Caicos€Islands,€one€member€questionedŠ )y Šwhether€setting€the€age€of€16€as€the€minimum€age€for€the€imposition€of€the€death€penalty€wasŠ b Šconsistent€with€the€Covenant.€€It€was€noted€that€the€reports€on€the€British€Virgin€Islands,€CaymanŠ ūK ŠIslands,€Gibralter€and€Hong€Kong€contained€information€concerning€the€laws€governing€the€crimeŠ ä4 Šof€genocide.€€Questions€were€asked€about€the€legislation€concerning€this€crime€in€the€other€territoriesŠ Ķ Šand€about€the€crimes€which€were€punishable€by€a€death€sentence.Š ¶ ŠĢ311.€€In€connection€with€article€7€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€expressed€their€graveŠ ˆŲ Šconcern€at€the€existence€of€corporal€punishment€in€the€British€Virgin€Islands,€the€Turks€and€CaicosŠ qĮ ŠIslands€and€Hong€Kong.€€Since€this€kind€of€punishment€no€longer€existed€in€the€United€Kingdom,Š ZŖ Šmembers€of€the€Committee€wondered€whether€it€should€continue€to€be€applied€in€the€dependentŠ C“ Šterritories.€In€this€connection€reference€was€made€to€the€report€on€Gibraltar€which€described€solitaryŠ ,| Šconfinement€as€one€of€the€punishments€that€could€be€applied€in€that€territory€and€whether€this€didŠ e Šnot,€in€the€view€of€the€United€Kingdom,€constitute€inhuman€treatment.€€It€was€also€asked€whetherŠ žN Šthe€legislation€in€the€territories€provided€for€persons€to€be€subjected€without€their€free€consent€toŠ ē 7 Šmedical€or€scientific€experimentation;€whether€the€immediate€relatives€were€asked€for€theirŠ Š!   Šagreement€and€who€took€the€final€decision€in€this€matter.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ312.€€With€regard€to€article€8€of€the€Covenant,€the€question€was€asked€whether€any€cases€of€forcedŠ ‹$Ū# Šlabour€existed€in€the€territories.€€Referring€to€the€report€on€Pitcairn,€one€member€enquired€whetherŠ t%Ä $ Šthe€public€work€referred€to€was€paid;€who€decided€whether€work€was€public;€for€how€long€suchŠ ]&­!% Šwork€was€performed;€whether€the€length€of€time€was€left€to€the€discretion€of€the€administration;€andŠ F'–"& Šwhat€remedies€were€available€in€the€event€of€dispute.€€It€was€noted€that€in€the€reports€of€Belize,Š /(#' ŠGibraltar€and€St.€€Helena€it€was€stated€that,€in€cases€of€breach€of€contract,€the€courts€would€notŠ )h$( Šgenerally€order€specific€performance.€€Questions€were€asked€as€to€whether€there€were€exceptionalŠ *Q%) Šcases€in€this€regard;€whether€labour€disputes€were€solved€in€accordance€with€the€normal€civil€lawŠ ź*:&* Šor€specific€labour€laws;€and€whether€restrictions€existed€in€the€field€of€employment€on€the€basis€ofŠ Ó+#'+ Šrace.€€The€representative€was€also€asked€whether€all€the€remnants€of€slavery€had€been€abolished€inŠ ¼, (, Šthe€territories.Š „-õ(- Š‡313.€€With€reference€to€article€9€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€observed€that€the€Bermuda€ConstitutionŠ ° ŠOrder€1968€provided€for€the€deprivation€of€liberty€of€a€person€for€specific€purposes,€but€it€did€notŠ ™é Šindicate€what€legal€safeguards€existed€against€the€misuse€of€that€provision.€€Referring€to€theŠ ‚Ņ Šparagraphs€in€the€reports€on€Belize,€the€British€Virgin€Islands,€Gibraltar€and€Hong€Kong,€whichŠ k» Šstated€that,€in€general,€an€arrested€person€must€be€informed€of€the€true€ground€of€his€arrest,Š T¤ Šinformation€was€asked€about€the€exceptions€in€this€respect.€€More€information€was€soughtŠ =  Šconcerning€bail€in€some€territories€such€as€Belize,€the€British€Virgin€Islands,€Gibraltar,€Hong€KongŠ & v Šand€Pitcairn,€in€view€of€the€financial€implications€it€might€have€on€the€less€privileged.€€The€questionŠ  _ Šwas€asked€as€to€whether€detention€was€under€the€control€of€the€local€police€or€that€of€theŠ ų H Šmetropolitan€Government.Š į 1  ŠĢ314.€€More€information€was€requested€on€the€implementation€in€the€dependent€territories€of€articleŠ ³  Š10€of€the€Covenant.€€Referring€to€statements€in€the€report€concerning€the€arrangements€that€existedŠ œģ  Šbetween€the€territories€for€the€execution€of€sentence€of€imprisonment,€some€members€asked€whetherŠ …Õ  Šsuch€arrangements€were€also€made€between€the€United€Kingdom€and€the€territories,€and€if€so€whatŠ n¾  Šfacilities€were€provided€for€family€visits€in€view€of€the€great€distance€between€the€prisoners€and€theirŠ W§  Šrelatives.€€Mention€was€also€made€of€a€statement€in€the€report€on€Hong€Kong€to€the€effect€that€aŠ @ Šconvicted€prisoner€could€be€required€to€do€useful€work€for€not€more€than€10€hours€a€day€and€thatŠ )y Šminors€could€be€sentenced€to€detention€in€a€training€centre€for€a€period€of€six€months€to€three€years.€Š b ŠThe€question€was€asked€whether,€in€the€view€of€the€United€Kingdom,€this€did€not€constitute€aŠ ūK Šviolation€of€articles€10€and€24€of€the€Covenant€and,€if€so,€whether€the€United€Kingdom€could€notŠ ä4 Šask€the€governor€of€Hong€Kong€to€bring€about€the€necessary€changes€in€this€regard.€Š Ķ ŠĢ315.€€With€reference€to€article€12€of€the€Covenant,€clarification€was€requested€on€the€reasons€for€theŠ Ÿļ Šreservation€to€paragraph€4€of€this€article€in€respect€of€the€Cayman€Islands.€€It€was€also€asked€whetherŠ ˆŲ Šall€persons€residing€in€the€dependent€territories€could€live€in€the€United€Kingdom€without€theŠ qĮ Šfulfilment€of€any€formalities.Š ZŖ ŠĢ316.€€In€respect€of€article€13€of€the€Covenant€one€member,€referring€to€the€report€on€the€BritishŠ ,| ŠVirgin€Islands,€asked€the€justification€for€the€deportation€of€a€person€who€was€destitute.€€He€alsoŠ e Šasked€what€was€the€justification€for€extending€a€deportation€order€to€the€wife€and€children€of€theŠ žN Šalien€concerned€and€whether€this€would€not€constitute€discrimination€based€on€sex.€€It€was€notedŠ ē 7 Šthat,€according€to€the€report€on€Belize,€aliens€could€be€deported€without€having€the€opportunity€toŠ Š!   Šhave€their€cases€reviewed€resulting€in€a€violation€of€article€13€of€the€Covenant.€€Questions€wereŠ ¹" ! Šasked€on€whether€guarantees€existed€in€the€territories€against€the€deportation€and€expulsion€ofŠ ¢#ņ" Špersons€who€took€refuge€in€the€territories;€the€reason€for€the€reservation€on€the€application€of€thisŠ ‹$Ū# Šarticle€in€Hong€Kong;€and€whether€the€Government€was€contemplating€the€withdrawal€of€thisŠ t%Ä $ Šreservation.€€More€information€was€requested€with€regard€to€the€rights€enjoyed€by€aliens€in€theŠ ]&­!% Šterritories.€€Did€they,€for€example,€enjoy€political€rights?Š F'–"& ŠĢ317.€€As€regards€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€questions€were€asked€on€whether€judges€were€recruitedŠ )h$( Šfrom€the€local€population€or€from€the€metropolitan€population,€and€how€the€independence€of€judgesŠ *Q%) Šwas€guaranteed€in€the€dependent€territories.€€Noting€that€the€Constitution€Orders€provided€that€aŠ ź*:&* Šperson€should€be€presumed€innocent€until€he€was€proved€or€pleaded€guilty,€one€member€wonderedŠ Ó+#'+ Šwhether€this€might€not€open€the€way€for€by„passing€the€presumption€of€innocence,€for€example€byŠ ¼, (, Šputting€pressure€on€an€accused€person€to€make€confessions€of€guilt.€€Clarification€was€required€withŠ „-õ(- Šregard€to€the€appeal€procedure€applied€in€Belize€and€Hong€Kong€where€specific€leave€to€appeal€wasŠ ° Šrequired;€the€right€of€the€accused€in€Gibralter€to€interpretation€throughout€the€court€proceedings;€theŠ ™é Šextent€to€which€a€victim€in€the€Turks€and€Caicos€Islands€could€bring€an€action€against€the€authoritiesŠ ‚Ņ Šif€there€were€no€legal€provisions€for€compensation€from€public€funds;€and€the€extent€to€which€theŠ k» Šprocedure€for€making€ņņex€gratiaóó€payments€in€other€territories€was€in€conformity€with€paragraph€6€ofŠ T¤ Šarticle€14€of€the€Covenant.Š =  ŠĢ318.€€In€respect€of€article€17€of€the€Covenant,€more€information€was€requested€on€the€guarantees€forŠ  _ Šprivacy€of€correspondence€in€Belize;€and€on€the€justification€for€the€interception€of€correspondenceŠ ų H Šof€prisoners€in€the€British€Virgin€Islands,€Gibralter€and€Pitcairn.Š į 1  ŠĢ319.€€In€connection€with€article€18€of€the€Covenant,€questions€were€asked€on€whether€there€was€aŠ ³  Šdominant€religion€in€the€territories;€whether€the€local€religions€were€respected;€which€religions€wereŠ œģ  Šprohibited;€was€atheism€prohibited;€and€were€the€people€allowed€to€express€their€opinions€and€theirŠ …Õ  Šsocialist€convictions.€€Referring€to€the€report€on€Belize,€one€member€stated€that,€if€parents€wereŠ n¾  Šrequired€to€obtain€special€permission€for€their€children€to€absent€themselves€from€religious€worshipŠ W§  Šand€instruction,€this€could€be€considered€a€violation€of€article€18€of€the€Covenant.€€It€was€noted€thatŠ @ Šfreedom€to€manifest€oneššs€religion€or€beliefs€was€restricted€by€law€in€Belize,€the€British€VirginŠ )y ŠIslands,€Gibraltar,€Montserrat€and€the€Turks€and€Caicos€Islands€only€to€the€extent€that€this€wasŠ b Šnecessary€to€secure€public€safety,€order,€health€or€morals,€or€the€rights€of€others€and€moreŠ ūK Šinformation€was€requested€on€these€restrictions.Š ä4 ŠĢ320.€€With€reference€to€article€19€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€whether€theŠ ¶ Šlist€of€exceptions€to€freedom€of€expression€contained€in€paragraph€58€of€the€report€on€Belize€wasŠ Ÿļ Šexhaustive€and,€if€not,€what€other€restrictions€existed;€what€was€the€meaning€of€the€expressionsŠ ˆŲ Šš šblasphemousšš€and€š šseditiousšš€used€in€that€paragraph;€what€punishment€was€provided€for€sedition;Š qĮ Šwhat€recourse€a€citizen€of€a€dependent€territory€had€if€he€thought€that€his€freedom€of€expression€hadŠ ZŖ Šbeen€violated;€and,€with€reference€to€the€report€on€the€Turks€and€Caicos€Islands,€what€were€theŠ C“ Šrestrictions€imposed€on€the€public€officers€in€respect€of€their€freedom€to€express€opinions.Š ,| ŠĢ321.€€With€reference€to€article€20€of€the€Covenant€an€explanation€was€requested€on€the€meaning€ofŠ žN Šthe€sentence€š ša€reservation€has€been€entered€to€reserve€the€right€not€to€amend€or€introduce€furtherŠ ē 7 Šlegislation€on€this€subjectšš€contained€in€paragraph€25€of€the€report€on€the€Cayman€Islands.€€It€wasŠ Š!   Šasked€whether€the€statement€in€the€same€paragraph€that€advocacy€of€hatred€in€certain€circumstancesŠ ¹" ! Šwas€an€offence€under€the€Public€Order€Law€1973€meant€that€such€advocacy€was€not€otherwise€anŠ ¢#ņ" Šoffence.€€It€was€also€noted€that€none€of€the€dependent€territories€seemed€to€have€legislationŠ ‹$Ū# Šprohibiting€war€propaganda€as€required€under€article€20€of€the€Covenant.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ322.€€With€reference€to€article€21€and€22€of€the€Covenant,€explanations€were€requested€on€theŠ F'–"& Šexpression€š šin€the€interests€of€the€community€as€a€wholešš€which€justified€the€restriction€on€freedomŠ /(#' Šof€assembly€in€Belize,€the€British€Virgin€Islands,€Gibraltar€and€Hong€Kong,€and€on€the€statementŠ )h$( Šin€the€report€on€the€Cayman€Islands€that€members€of€the€Civil€Service€were€precluded€from€takingŠ *Q%) Šan€active€part€in€any€political€arguments€or€electoral€campaigns€but€were€free€to€belong€to€a€politicalŠ ź*:&* Šparty€and€to€vote.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ323.€€In€respect€of€articles€23€and€24€of€the€Covenant€questions€were€asked€on€what€the€legal€ageŠ „-õ(- Šfor€marriage€in€Belize€was;€whether€in€the€British€Virgin€Islands€a€woman€could€ever€be€consideredŠ ° Šhead€of€the€family;€who€received€child€custody€in€case€of€divorce;€whether€there€were€provisionsŠ ™é Šfor€the€payment€of€alimony;€how€widows€and€children€were€protected;€and€whether€a€husband€inŠ ‚Ņ ŠGibraltar€could€legally€rape€his€own€wife€if€they€were€not€separated;€and€whether€there€were,€in€St.€Š k» ŠHelena,€any€provisions€for€family€planning.€€It€was€noted€that€in€the€British€Virgin€Islands€a€womanŠ T¤ Šcould€lose€her€nationality€if€she€married€a€foreigner€and€the€question€was€asked€whether€that€did€notŠ =  Šconstitute€a€violation€of€article€23€of€the€Covenant.€€It€was€also€asked€why€the€status€of€children€bornŠ & v Šout€of€wedlock€in€the€dependent€territories€seemed€to€be€inferior€to€that€of€other€children.Š  _ ŠĢ324.€€In€connection€with€article€25€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€how€the€rightsŠ į 1  Šof€the€people€provided€under€this€article€of€the€Covenant€were€guaranteed€so€as€to€ensure€their€activeŠ Ź   Šparticipation€in€the€conduct€of€public€affairs;€and€what€was€the€percentage€of€the€indigenous€officialsŠ ³  Šin€the€governments€of€the€territories.€They€referred€to€the€statement€in€the€report€on€Belize€that€onlyŠ œģ  ŠEnglish„speaking€citizens€could€be€elected€Members€of€the€House€of€Representatives€and€to€otherŠ …Õ  Šconditions€relating€to€property€and€income€for€candidature€in€an€election,€and€pointed€out€that€theseŠ n¾  Šlanguage€requirements€were€not€in€accordance€with€articles€25€and€2€of€the€Covenant.€€QuestionsŠ W§  Šwere€asked€as€to€who€presided€over€the€legislative€council€of€the€Falkland€Islands;€what€authorityŠ @ Šdid€the€members€have€and€what€ethnic€groups€did€they€represent;€how€and€under€what€criteria€wereŠ )y Šthe€executive€and€legislative€councils€in€Hong€Kong€appointed;€whether,€under€the€circumstances,Š b Šthe€people€of€Pitcairn€could€really€take€a€firm€stand€on€matters€affecting€relations€between€them€andŠ ūK Šthe€United€Kingdom;€why€only€male€persons€in€Pitcairn€over€the€age€of€21€years€were€eligible€forŠ ä4 Šelection€to€the€office€of€Island€Magistrate€or€the€Chairman€of€the€Internal€Committee;€what€were€theŠ Ķ Šconditions€required€by€the€candidates€for€public€office€in€Gibraltar,€and€why,€in€the€Turks€andŠ ¶ ŠCaicos€Islands,€public€officials€were€excluded€from€the€election€to€the€legislative€council.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ325.€€It€was€noted€by€a€member€of€the€Committee€that,€with€regard€to€article€26€of€the€Covenant,€theŠ qĮ Šauthors€of€the€report€had€used€Diceyššs€concept€of€equality€before€the€law€as€part€of€š šthe€rule€of€lawšš,Š ZŖ Šthat€is€to€say,€equality€before€the€courts.€€This€definition€applied€to€article€14€of€the€Covenant.€Š C“ ŠArticle€26,€however,€did€not€refer€only€to€this€Diceyan€concept€of€equality€before€the€courts,€but€alsoŠ ,| Što€the€š šegalitarianšš€concept€of€š šequal€protection€of€the€lawšš,€in€the€sense€of€non„discrimination.€Š e ŠThus,€article€26€was€not€as€restrictive€as€indicated€in€paragraph€136€of€the€report€on€Hong€Kong,Š žN Šparagraph€112€of€the€report€on€Gibraltar,€paragraph€145€of€the€report€on€the€British€Virgin€Islands,Š ē 7 Šbut€rather€had€the€wider€egalitarian€meaning€which€was€to€be€found€in€paragraph€39€of€the€BermudaŠ Š!   Šreport€and€paragraph€75€of€the€Belize€report,€in€which€the€authors€accepted€the€post„Second€WorldŠ ¹" ! ŠWar€definition€which€prohibited€all€discrimination.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ326.€€With€reference€to€article€27€of€the€Covenant,€the€question€was€asked€whether€Chinese€orŠ t%Ä $ ŠEnglish€was€used€in€the€administration€of€Hong€Kong€and€whether€Chinese€was€the€medium€ofŠ ]&­!% Šcommunication€within€the€Chinese€community.€€One€member€pointed€out€that€the€text€of€the€reportŠ F'–"& Šon€Montserrat€dealing€with€article€27€of€the€Covenant€was€not€very€clear€because€it€said€nothingŠ /(#' Šabout€the€actual€practice€and€therefore€required€some€explanation.€€Referring€to€paragraph€75€of€theŠ )h$( Šreport€on€Belize€which€stated€that€territoryššs€law€applied€equally€and€without€discrimination€š što€allŠ *Q%) Šnationals€and€aliensšš€some€explanations€was€requested,€inasmuch€as€knowledge€of€English€was€aŠ ź*:&* Šcondition€precedent€to€membership€in€the€legislature,€thus€constituting€discrimination.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ327.€€With€regard€to€the€question€of€the€preservation€by€the€peoples€of€the€territory€of€their€Ō_ŌownŠ „-õ(- Šcustoms,€language€and€culture,€the€following€questions€were€asked:€whether€they€were€allowed€toŠ ° Šhave€their€own€schools€where€their€own€language€was€the€medium;€whether€their€cultures,€rites€andŠ ™é Šreligious€practices€were€encouraged;€whether€they€were€provided€with€medical€aid€and€socialŠ ‚Ņ Šsecurity;€and€whether€child€labour€was€allowed.€€With€regard€to€the€problems€of€the€identity€of€theŠ k» Šdependent€territories€the€question€was€asked€as€to€whether€there€was€a€policy€to€safeguard€thisŠ T¤ Šidentity€or€rather€a€policy€of€assimilation€through€the€medium€of€the€English€language.Š =  ŠĢ328.€€From€the€statement€contained€in€paragraph€74€of€the€report€on€Belize,€there€appeared€to€be€aŠ  _ Šgrave€risk€of€assimilation€being€carried€out€in€that€territory€by€a€policy€designed€in€effect€to€suppressŠ ų H Šthe€Spanish€language.€€If€this€were€true,€it€would€constitute€a€violation€of€article€27€of€the€Covenant.Š į 1  ŠĢ329.€€The€representative€of€the€United€Kingdom€replied€to€those€of€the€observations€and€questionsŠ ³  Šsummarized€in€the€preceding€paragraphs€on€which€he€could€comment€at€least€in€part,€subject€to€theŠ œģ  Špossibility€of€amplifying€or€modifying€those€comments€later€when€the€questions€and€observationsŠ …Õ  Šmade€by€members€of€the€Committee€had€been€fully€studied€by€the€authorities€of€the€dependentŠ n¾  Šterritories€concerned.Š W§  ŠĢ330.€€Responding€to€questions€under€article€1€of€the€Covenant€he€stated€that€British€colonial€policyŠ )y Šwas€governed€by€a€principle€which€could€aptly€be€summarized€as€š šstay€if€you€like,€go€when€youŠ b Šwishšš.€€He€was€in€agreement€with€members€of€the€Committee€that€in€1979€colonies€constituted€anŠ ūK Šanomaly€but€at€the€same€time€there€was€a€dilemma:€if€the€people€wished€to€remain€there€would€beŠ ä4 Šcertain€constraints€imposed€on€their€wishes,€including€the€matter€of€helping€the€United€KingdomŠ Ķ Šperform€its€international€obligations.€€Experience€had€demonstrated€that€there€was€no€panacea€butŠ ¶ Šeach€territory€must€be€treated€on€its€own€merits€and€according€to€its€own€wishes.€€It€should€also€beŠ Ÿļ Šrecalled€that€while€General€Assembly€resolution€1514€(XV)€of€1960€dealt€wŌ_ŌithŌ_Ō€independence,€theŠ ˆŲ ŠCovenant€spoke€of€the€right€of€self„determination.€€In€his€opinion,€St€Helena€would€never€be€ableŠ qĮ Što€achieve€independence.€He€gave€additional€information€concerning€the€political€development€inŠ ZŖ Šeach€of€the€11€territories€which€he€divided€in€two€groups;€the€first€group€which€might€be€termedŠ C“ Šš špoliticalšš€dependencies€included€Hong€Kong,€Gibraltar,€Belize€and€the€Falkland€Islands€and€theŠ ,| Šsecond€group€consisted€of€what€might€be€termed€the€š šnormalšš€colonies,€which€comprised€the€rest.Š e ŠĢ331.€€Because€of€the€geographical€and€historical€circumstances€of€Hong€Kong,€the€members€of€theŠ ē 7 ŠExecutive€and€Legislative€Council€were€not€elected€although€members€of€the€urban€council€were.€Š Š!   ŠHowever,€considerable€efforts€were€made€to€ascertain€the€views€of€the€interested€parties€and€actŠ ¹" ! Šaccordingly.€€In€his€experience€the€Hong€Kong€Government€was€obliged€to€take€more€account€ofŠ ¢#ņ" Špublic€opinion€that€were€those€of€some€neighbouring€independent€territories.€€The€Chinese€languageŠ ‹$Ū# Šwas€freely€used€in€communications€between€the€Government€and€the€public€at€large.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ332.€€For€the€United€Kingdom€Government,€the€wishes€of€the€people€of€Gibraltar€were€paramount.€Š F'–"& ŠAs€shown€by€the€result€of€the€election€of€1976,€people€in€Gibraltar€were€opposed€to€being€placedŠ /(#' Šunder€Spanish€sovereignty.€€There€was€a€House€of€Assembly€and€an€official€Opposition.Š )h$( ŠĢ333.€€As€for€Belize,€all€has€been€set€for€independence€for€several€years.€€Only€international€politicalŠ ź*:&* Šdifficulties€constituted€an€obstacle€and€discussions€were€in€progress€to€solve€the€problem.€€ElectionsŠ Ó+#'+ Šwould€be€held€within€a€few€months.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š334.€€The€population€of€the€Falkland€Islands€had€been€given€the€assurance€by€the€United€KingdomŠ ° Šthat€any€proposals€affecting€their€future€must€be€acceptable€to€them.€€He€informed€the€CommitteeŠ ™é Šthat€the€population€of€the€territory€was€only€1,800:€nearly€all€of€them€were€of€British€descent€andŠ ‚Ņ Š80€per€cent€were€born€in€the€territory.€€On€many€occasions€the€people€had€expressed€the€desire€toŠ k» Šretain€their€links€with€the€United€Kingdom.€€There€was€at€present€no€demand€for€independence.€Š T¤ ŠDiscussions€continued€with€Argentina€to€solve€the€international€political€aspects€of€the€problem.€Š =  ŠHe€informed€the€Committee€that€recently€a€Minister€of€the€United€Kingdom€visited€Buenos€Aires,Š & v Šas€well€as€the€Falklands,€for€this€purpose.€€As€requested€he€gave€detailed€information€concerning€theŠ  _ Šsystem€of€government€of€the€islands.Š ų H ŠĢ335.€€With€regard€to€other€dependent€territories,€that€is€to€say,€the€š šnormalšš€colonies,€theŠ Ź   Šrepresentative€provided€the€Committee€with€the€following€information:€(a)€ņņBermudaóó€:€€In€1977€theŠ ³  ŠGovernment€of€Bermuda€published€a€Green€Paper€on€independence.€€Two€studies€undertaken€by€theŠ œģ  ŠUnited€Bermuda€Party,€which€was€the€party€in€power,€showed€that€the€majority€did€not€wantŠ …Õ  Šindependence.€€A€White€Paper€would€be€published€in€the€near€future.€€In€his€personal€view,€BermudaŠ n¾  Šwould€eventually€become€independent€but€not€for€several€years.€€(b)€ņņThe€British€Virgin€Islandsóó€:€TheŠ W§  Špeople€of€the€territory€did€not€want€independence€in€the€near€future.€€The€question€of€independenceŠ @ Šwas€not€raised€during€the€election€in€1975€and€most€likely€would€not€be€an€issue€in€the€next€electionŠ )y Šscheduled€later€this€year.€€The€territory€would€probably€become€independent,€but€only,€€when,€withŠ b Šthe€aid€of€the€United€Kingdom,€its€economy€became€stronger.€€Ō_Ō(cŌ_Ō)€ņņThe€Cayman€Islandsóó€:€the€peopleŠ ūK Šwere€strongly€opposed€to€any€discussion€on€independence€and€to€any€new€constitutional€changes,Š ä4 Šwhich€in€their€view,€would€inevitably€lead€in€that€direction.€€The€visit€of€the€United€NationsŠ Ķ ŠCommittee€of€24€to€the€Islands€in€1977€was€very€much€resented€not€only€by€the€people,€but€also€byŠ ¶ Šthe€local€press€and€some€members€of€the€Government.€€The€United€Kingdom€was€blamed€for€thisŠ Ÿļ Švisit€and€he€had€been€asked€to€ensure€that€no€such€visit€occurred€in€the€future.€In€his€view,€theŠ ˆŲ Šincreasing€political€instability€in€the€Caribbean€would€hardly€encourage€the€Cayman€Islands€to€seekŠ qĮ Šindependence.€€(d)€ņņMontserratóó€:€General€elections€were€held€in€November€1978,€but€the€two€partiesŠ ZŖ Šdid€not€raise€the€question€of€the€future€of€the€territory.€There€was€no€movement€in€favour€ofŠ C“ Šindependence.€€The€people€were€free€to€determine€their€own€future€in€accordance€with€the€principlesŠ ,| Šof€the€Charter.€€It€was€possible€that€regional€pressure€would€lead€Montserrat€eventually€to€opt€forŠ e Šindependence,€but€not€before€it€had€consolidated€its€economy.€€(e)€ņņThe€Turks€and€Caicos€Islandsóó€:Š žN Šthe€Government€of€the€territory€had€informed€the€United€Kingdom€Government€of€its€intention€toŠ ē 7 Šask€for€certain€constitutional€changes€with€a€view€to€moving€towards€political€independence.€On€theŠ Š!   Šother€hand,€the€Opposition€was€at€present€not€in€favour€of€independence.€€His€impression€was€thatŠ ¹" ! Šthe€party€in€power€would€like€to€make€the€constitutional€changes€a€prelude€to€independence€providedŠ ¢#ņ" Šthat€it€would€succeed€in€consolidating€the€economy€of€the€territory.€€(f)€ņņSt.€€Helenaóó€:€On€severalŠ ‹$Ū# Šoccasions€the€Legislative€Council€of€the€territory€had€informed€the€United€Kingdom€GovernmentŠ t%Ä $ Šthat€the€population€did€not€wish€to€become€independent€and,€accordingly,€no€further€constitutionalŠ ]&­!% Šchanges€were€contemplated.€€Because€of€its€scarce€resources€it€was€very€difficult€to€see€how€St.€Š F'–"& ŠHelena€could€be€independent€in€the€foreseeable€future.€€The€Island€relied€very€much€on€the€UnitedŠ /(#' ŠKingdom€for€substantial€grants„in„aid.€€(g)€ņņPitcairnóó€:€€This€island€was€a€special€case.€He€agreed€withŠ )h$( Šmembers€of€the€Committee€that€although€the€Island€had€only€65€inhabitants€their€human€rightsŠ *Q%) Šshould€not€be€ignored.€€Fewer€and€fewer€boats€passed€near€the€Island€and€they€were€now€veryŠ ź*:&* Šexpensive€to€divert€and€even€then€they€had€to€stop€at€the€reefs€whŌ_ŌichŌ_Ō€surround€the€Island.€€Much€ofŠ Ó+#'+ Šthe€required€public€work€mentioned€in€the€report€was€necessary€to€man€the€long€boats€to€transportŠ ¼, (, Šmerchandise€to€the€Island.€If€one€day€there€were€not€enough€people€to€carry€out€this€job,€most€likelyŠ „-õ(- Ševery€one€would€have€to€migrate,€for€instance,€to€New€Zealand.€€He€said€the€Island€had€a€councilŠ ° Šof€10€members€which€exercised€legislative€powers€under€the€supervision€of€the€Governor.€€AŠ ™é ŠCommittee€of€the€council€was€responsible€for€traditional€public€works€and€supervised€theirŠ ‚Ņ Šexecution.Š k» ŠĢ336.€€Replying€to€another€question€under€article€1€of€the€Covenant€he€assured€the€Committee€thatŠ =  Šthere€existed€frequent€ministerial€contacts€between€London€and€local€administrations€to€find€out€theŠ & v Šwishes€of€the€local€population.€€For€example,€a€Minister€of€the€Foreign€and€Commonwealth€OfficeŠ  _ Šwas€at€present€holding€discussions€with€the€Chief€Minister€of€Montserrat.€€In€this€connection€he€onceŠ ų H Šagain€emphasized€that€British€colonial€policy€was€not€to€force€the€people€of€the€territories€to€doŠ į 1  Šsomething€contrary€to€their€wishes.Š Ź   ŠĢ337.€€In€reply€to€the€question€concerning€the€š šexorbitantšš€power€of€the€governors.€€He€explained€thatŠ œģ  Šcolonial€governors€were€not€ambassadors€but€administrators.€€Nevertheless,€they€conveyed€theŠ …Õ  Šwishes€and€policies€of€the€British€Government€to€the€local€population.€€At€the€same€time€they€veryŠ n¾  Šstrongly€represented€the€wishes€of€the€local€population€to€London.€€He€added€that€the€Governor€wasŠ W§  Šnot€a€dictator€because€his€powers€were€limited€by€the€restrictions€and€requirements€provided€by€theŠ @ Šlaws,€the€conventions€and€the€instructions€of€Her€Majesty€in€Council.€€In€general€he€could€not€takeŠ )y Šdecisions€until€after€having€consulted€various€persons€or€bodies.€€Above€all€he€was€responsible€forŠ b Špeace€and€good€order€in€the€territory€and€for€the€well„being€of€the€people.€To€this€end€he€was€vestedŠ ūK Šwith€residual€powers.€€In€this€connection€he€referred€to€article€27€of€the€Constitution€of€Belize.Š ä4 ŠĢ338.€€With€regard€to€the€question€concerning€Ocean€Island,€the€representative€stated€that€the€islandŠ ¶ Šwas€now€a€part€of€the€new€republic€of€Kiribati€inasmuch€as€it€would€not€have€been€appropriate€forŠ Ÿļ Šthe€United€Kingdom€to€lay€itself€open€to€a€charge€of€dismemberment€of€territory€before€the€grantingŠ ˆŲ Šof€independence.€The€sitŌ_ŌuationŌ_Ō€was€not€comparable€to€that€of€the€former€Ō_ŌElliceŌ_Ō€Islands,€now€Tuvalu,Š qĮ Šwhich€were€separated€from€the€Gilbert€Islands€as€a€result€of€a€referendum.Š ZŖ ŠĢ339.€€Regarding€the€protection€of€the€natural€resources€of€the€dependent€territories,€he€stated€that€theŠ ,| ŠBritish€Government€was€very€sensitive€to€the€defence€of€the€interests€of€the€peoples€of€the€dependentŠ e Šterritories€at€various€international€forums,€including€the€United€Nations€Conference€on€the€Law€ofŠ žN Šthe€Sea.€€No€immediate€benefits€would€accrue€for€the€United€Kingdom€in€cases€of€discoveries€ofŠ ē 7 Šdeposits€of€oil,€for€instance.€€In€this€connection€he€stated€that,€for€example,€if€the€present€search€forŠ Š!   Šoil€off€Ō_ŌAnegadaŌ_Ō€in€the€British€Virgin€Islands€succeeded,€the€United€Kingdom€would€not€directlyŠ ¹" ! Šbenefit€from€the€discovery.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ340.€€In€response€to€the€question€concerning€the€status€of€the€Covenant€in€the€dependent€territoriesŠ t%Ä $ Šand€the€incorporations€of€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€in€the€Orders€in€Council€of€these€territories,Š ]&­!% Šhe€explained€that€before€the€ratification€of€the€Covenant,€the€Government€of€the€United€KingdomŠ F'–"& Šhad€ensured€that€the€legislation€in€force€in€the€territories€was€in€conformity€with€the€provisions€ofŠ /(#' Šthe€Covenant.€€He€stated€that€the€legislation€of€the€United€Kingdom€as€well€as€that€of€the€dependentŠ )h$( Šterritories€contained€the€principles€of€common€law€and€equity€which€in€his€opinion€were€not€at€allŠ *Q%) Šnebulous.€€These€principles€were€solidly€founded€on€decisions€of€the€courts,€which€had€beenŠ ź*:&* Šaccumulated€in€the€course€of€the€years.€€In€some€of€the€territories,€namely€those€which€wereŠ Ó+#'+ Šapproaching€independence,€there€existed€Orders€in€Council€or€other€constitutional€instruments€whichŠ ¼, (, Šembodied€the€provisions€contained€in€the€Covenant.Š „-õ(- Š‡341.€€As€to€the€question€whether€the€laws€of€the€metropolitan€area€were€automatically€applicable€inŠ ° Šthe€dependent€territories,€he€stated€that€some€were€and€others€were€not.€€He€explained€that€inŠ ™é Šcolonies€which€were€settled€by€the€British,€the€principle€was€that€the€colonizers€brought€their€lawsŠ ‚Ņ Šwith€them€when€they€settled€there.€€In€the€case€of€territories€which€had€been€conquered,€the€existingŠ k» Šlaws€continued€in€force€until€they€had€been€amended€by€the€new€authorities.€€In€general,€followingŠ T¤ Ša€decision€taken€locally€or€more€often€by€the€metropolitan€public€authority€the€principles€of€commonŠ =  Šlaw€and€equity€were€introduced€in€the€territories€subject€to€local€laws€and€the€metropolitan€lawsŠ & v Šwhich€had€already€been€in€force.€€In€brief,€the€application€of€metropolitan€law€in€the€territories€wasŠ  _ Šnot€automatic.Š ų H ŠĢ342.€€In€response€to€the€question€concerning€the€responsibility€of€the€United€Kingdom€for€ensuringŠ Ź   Šthat€the€dependent€territories€comply€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€he€stated€that€in€principleŠ ³  Šit€was€evident€that€in€case€a€dependent€territory€failed€to€respect€a€certain€obligation€under€theŠ œģ  ŠCovenant,€the€United€Kingdom€could€be€held€responsible€at€the€international€level.€€As€a€matter€ofŠ …Õ  Šfact€the€United€Kingdom€attached€a€great€importance€to€the€observance€by€all€States€of€theirŠ n¾  Šinternational€conventional€obligations€and€made€sure€that€the€legislation€of€€territories€was€inŠ W§  Šconformity€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€Of€course,€due€to€local€circumstances€certainŠ @ Šprovisions€of€the€Covenant€were€not€always€literally€reflected€in€the€local€legislation.€€If€it€provedŠ )y Šnecessary€to€amend€the€legislation,€this€would€necessarily€take€some€time.Š b ŠĢ343.€€In€reply€to€a€question€concerning€the€declaration€of€the€United€Kingdom€on€the€relationŠ ä4 Šbetween€the€Charter€and€the€Covenant,€he€stated€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_Ō€declaration€was€made€in€case€there€wasŠ Ķ Ša€contradiction€between€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€those€of€the€Charter.€€In€fact€theŠ ¶ Šdeclaration€may€not€have€been€necessary€in€view€of€article€103€of€the€ChaŌ_ŌrterŌ_Ō.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ344.€€In€reply€to€the€question€concerning€the€New€Hebrides,€the€representative€stated€that€no€reportŠ qĮ Šwas€submitted€on€that€territory€because€the€United€Kingdom€shared€responsibility€for€this€territoryŠ ZŖ Šwith€France.€He€added€that€the€New€Hebrides€could€be€expected€to€become€independent€in€the€nearŠ C“ Šfuture.Š ,| ŠĢ345.€€In€reply€to€a€question€concerning€the€statement€in€the€report€on€the€Cayman€Islands€that€theŠ žN Šterritory€š šis€bound€by€the€Council€of€Europe€Convention€for€the€Protection€of€Human€Rights€andŠ ē 7 ŠFundamental€Freedomsšš,€he€explained€that€this€was€in€accordance€with€article€63€of€the€EuropeanŠ Š!   ŠConvention€on€Human€Rights€which€stated€that€any€State€could,€at€the€time€of€its€ratification€or€at€Š ¹" ! Šany€time€thereafter,€declare€that€the€Convention€should€extend€to€all€or€any€of€the€territories€forŠ ¢#ņ" Šwhose€international€relations€it€was€responsible.€€Invoking€this€article€the€United€Kingdom€hadŠ ‹$Ū# Šdeclared€in€1953€that€the€Convention€applied€to€most€of€its€dependent€territories.€€The€followingŠ t%Ä $ Šterritories€were€bound€by€the€European€Convention:€Belize,€Bermuda,€British€Virgin€Islands,Š ]&­!% ŠCayman€Islands,€Falkland€Islands,€Gibraltar,€Montserrat,€St.€€Helena€and€Turks€and€Caicos€Islands.€Š F'–"& ŠWith€regard€to€the€right€of€petition€of€the€individual€and€acceptance€as€compulsory€of€the€jurisdictionŠ /(#' Šof€the€European€Court€of€Human€Rights,€provided€for€by€articles€25€and€46€of€the€EuropeanŠ )h$( ŠConvention,€these€two€provisions€were€applicable€to€Belize,€Bermuda,€the€British€Virgin€Islands,Š *Q%) Šthe€Cayman€Islands,€the€Falkland€Islands,€St.€€Helena,€and€the€Turks€and€Caicos€Islands.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ346.€€In€reply€to€questions€concerning€the€British€Indian€Ocean€Territories€and€the€bases€in€CyprusŠ ¼, (, Šthe€representative€stated€that€the€Covenant€was€not€ratified€in€respect€of€these€two€Territories.Š „-õ(- Š‡347.€€Responding€to€a€question€under€article€2€of€the€Covenant€as€to€whether€the€Crown€ProceedingsŠ ° ŠOrdinance€of€the€British€Virgin€Islands€provided€sufficient€recourse€against€the€Crown,€he€stated€thatŠ ™é Šarticle€3€of€the€Ordinance€had€abolished€previous€restrictions€applicable€in€cases€against€the€Crown.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ348.€€Responding€to€a€question€under€article€6€of€the€Covenant€in€relation€to€paragraphs€12€and€13Š T¤ Šof€the€report€on€Bermuda,€particularly€concerning€the€meaning€of€the€term€š šduring€Her€MajestyššsŠ =  Špleasurešš,€the€representative€stated€that€the€imprisonment€in€such€cases€could€be€about€eight€to€nineŠ & v Šyears€and€that€the€circumstances€of€each€case€determined€the€duration€of€sentence.Š  _ ŠĢ349.€€With€regard€to€paragraph€10€of€the€report€on€Bermuda€which€dealt€with€cases€when€a€personŠ į 1  Šcould€be€deprived€of€his€life,€the€representative€called€the€attention€of€the€Committee€to€article€2€ofŠ Ź   Šthe€annex€to€the€Bermuda€Constitution€Order€1968,€in€particular€to€the€phrase,€š š€to€such€extent€andŠ ³  Šin€such€instances€as€are€permissible€by€law,€of€such€force€as€is€reasonably€justifiablešš€which€left€itŠ œģ  Što€the€court€to€decide€whether€the€circumstances€and€the€means€used€in€a€particular€case€made€theŠ …Õ  Šdeprivation€of€life€justifiable.Š n¾  ŠĢ350.€€As€to€the€question€of€the€death€penalty,€the€Common€Law€provided€only€the€ingredients€forŠ @ Šmurder€but€did€not€define€the€word€murder.€€Traditionally,€crimes€which€were€punishable€by€theŠ )y Šdeath€sentence€were€treason,€piracy€and€murder.€€In€most€countries€where€the€crime€of€murder€wasŠ b Šstatutory€a€distinction€was€made€between€simple€and€pre„mediated€murder.€€The€concept€of€theŠ ūK ŠCommon€Law,€however,€made€a€distinction€between€š šintent€to€killšš€and€š škilling€with€maliceŠ ä4 Šaforethoughtšš,€rather€than€in€accordance€with€the€degree€of€murder.Š Ķ ŠĢ351.€€In€reply€to€a€question€related€to€the€passage€in€the€report€of€the€Turks€and€Caicos€€IslandsŠ Ÿļ Šwhich€gave€the€impression€that€youths€of€16€years€of€age€could€be€sentenced€to€death,€and€to€theŠ ˆŲ Šquery€concerning€the€sending€of€children€to€centres€of€detention€in€Hong€Kong,€he€stated€that€heŠ qĮ Šwould€study€the€matter€and€communicate€the€results€to€the€Committee€later.Š ZŖ ŠĢ352.€€Responding€to€a€question€concerning€what€action€had€been€taken€by€the€United€Kingdom€inŠ ,| Šconnection€with€violation€of€article€3€of€the€European€Convention,€which€was€equivalent€to€theŠ e Šarticle€7€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€stated€that€if€the€question€was€related€to€the€decisionsŠ žN Šconcerning€certain€practices€in€Northern€Ireland€and€the€decision€taken€earlier€this€year€on€theŠ ē 7 Šsubject€of€corporal€punishment€on€the€Isle€of€Man,€he€reminded€the€Committee€that€the€reply€to€theŠ Š!   Šquestion€of€the€United€Kingdom€could€be€found€in€its€supplementary€report€of€13€September€1978,Š ¹" ! Šdocument€Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/1/Add.35,€paragraphs€14€to€17;€and€in€Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.149,€paragraphs€3.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ353.€€The€question€was€also€raised€as€to€whether€the€decision€taken€under€the€provision€of€theŠ t%Ä $ ŠEuropean€Convention€should€be€applied€to€analogous€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€He€stated€that€itŠ ]&­!% Šwould€be€erroneous€to€consider€the€decisions€under€the€provision€of€the€European€Convention€asŠ F'–"& Šconclusive€and€also€binding€in€respect€of€similar€articles€of€the€Covenant.€€He€reminded€theŠ /(#' ŠCommittee€that€the€two€instruments€were€adopted€under€different€circumstances€and€there€was€anŠ )h$( Šinterval€of€20€years€between€them.€€Also€the€European€Convention€was€an€instrument€with€a€regionalŠ *Q%) Šcharacter,€that€it€would€not€necessarily€be€appropriate€to€apply€the€same€interpretation€to€analogousŠ ź*:&* Šprovisions€of€the€Covenant€which€had€a€world„wide€character.€€However,€this€did€not€mean€that€oneŠ Ó+#'+ Šshould€not€take€into€account€the€decisions€of€the€European€Convention,€which€would€be€ofŠ ¼, (, Špersuasive€weight€in€construing€the€analogous€expressions€used€in€the€Covenant.€€As€to€corporalŠ „-õ(- Špunishment,€neither€the€European€Convention€nor€the€Covenant€used€that€expression.€€It€was€aŠ ° Šmatter€of€interpretation€of€the€term€š šdegrading€treatmentšš.€€The€United€Kingdom€Government€wouldŠ ™é Šstudy€this€question€with€great€care,€in€particular,€as€it€applied€to€the€different€situations€of€theŠ ‚Ņ Šdependent€territories.€€The€observations€made€by€the€members€of€the€Committee€on€this€subject€wereŠ k» Šcertainly€very€useful.€€With€regard€to€specific€information€requested€on€corporal€punishment€inŠ T¤ Šcertain€dependent€territories,€the€Government€would€reply€in€writing€at€a€later€stage.Š =  ŠĢ354.€€In€reply€to€a€question€under€article€8€of€the€Covenant€relating€to€paragraph€41€of€the€report€onŠ  _ Šthe€British€Virgin€Islands€concerning€the€hard€labour€which€could€be€imposed€at€the€discretion€ofŠ ų H Šthe€court€for€crimes€for€which€such€an€option€was€expressly€provided,€he€said€that€the€competentŠ į 1  Šauthorities€would€be€consulted€on€the€matter.€€Responding€to€another€question€under€this€article,€heŠ Ź   Šsaid€that€slavery€did€not€exist€in€any€of€the€territories.Š ³  ŠĢ355.€€Commenting€on€questions€under€article€9€of€the€Covenant€relating€to€bail€as€referred€to€in€theŠ …Õ  Šreports€of€a€number€of€the€dependent€territories€the€representative€stated€that€this€measure€wasŠ n¾  Šintended€to€secure€the€liberty€of€a€person€and€at€the€same€time€to€ensure€his€attendance€at€theŠ W§  Šsubsequent€hearing.€€The€question€of€payment€usually€only€arose€if€the€individual€concerned€failedŠ @ Što€appear€in€court.€€In€fact,€the€judges,€in€the€exercise€of€their€authority,€took€into€account€theŠ )y Šfinancial€situation€of€the€individual,€because€the€aim€of€this€measure€was€not€to€keep€someone€inŠ b Šprison€if€he€had€no€financial€resources.Š ūK ŠĢ356.€€With€regard€to€the€question€of€compensation€for€unlawful€arrest€or€detention,€he€said€that€inŠ Ķ Špractice€article€9,€paragraph€5,€of€the€Covenant€was€applied€in€spirit.€€However€new€provisionsŠ ¶ Šshould€perhaps€be€contemplated€to€observe€fully€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€This€questionŠ Ÿļ Šwould€be€studied€further.€Š ˆŲ ŠĢ357.€€In€reply€to€a€question€under€article€10€of€the€CŌ_ŌovenantŌ_Ō€related€to€paragraph€5€of€the€report€onŠ ZŖ ŠSt.€Helena,€he€believed€that€the€punishment€was€applied€after€it€had€been€confirmed€by€the€non„Š C“ Šresident€Chief€Justice.€€He,€however,€undertook€to€seek€confirmation€of€this€matter€with€theŠ ,| Šauthorities€concerned.Š e ŠĢ358.€€Responding€to€a€question€under€article€14€of€the€Covenant€related€to€paragraph€3€of€the€sectionŠ ē 7 Šof€the€report€on€the€Turks€and€Caicos€Islands,€he€said€it€seemed€that€the€provision€was€not€aimed€atŠ Š!   Šthe€Government€but€at€the€authority€which€was€responsible€for€instituting€criminal€proceedingsŠ ¹" ! Šmaliciously€or€without€reasonable€cause.€€He€would€provide€further€clarification€on€this€matter.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ359.€€In€reply€to€a€question€relating€to€paragraph€2€of€article€6€of€the€Bermuda€Constitution€whichŠ t%Ä $ Šprovided€that€a€person€could€be€declared€guilty€if€he€Ō_ŌpleadedŌ_Ō€guilty,€the€representative€stated€thatŠ ]&­!% Šin€practice€the€judge€may€often€refuse€the€confession€as€a€proof.€€However,€one€could€consider€thatŠ F'–"& Ša€plea€of€guilty€in€itself€was€proof€of€culpability.€€As€to€the€question€of€whether€the€accused€wasŠ /(#' Šresponsible€for€the€cost€of€the€attendance€of€his€witnesses,€the€representative€stated€that€as€far€as€heŠ )h$( Šcould€remember,€in€Bermuda€at€any€rate€the€cost€of€the€defence€witnesses€and€that€of€the€accusedŠ *Q%) Šwas€defrayed€from€public€funds.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ360.€€With€regard€to€the€question€as€to€who€decided€that€court€proceedings€should€be€held€ņņin€cameraóó,Š ¼, (, Šhe€said€that€the€decision€was€in€the€hands€of€the€judge€but€that€proceedings€ņņin€cameraóó€wereŠ „-õ(- Šextremely€rare.Š ° ŠĢ361.€€Referring€to€a€question€in€connection€with€article€14,€paragraph€3€(f)€of€the€Covenant,€andŠ ‚Ņ Šparagraph€39€and€65€of€the€report€on€Belize€and€Gibraltar€respectively,€the€representative€assuredŠ k» Šthe€Committee€that€in€practice€all€the€pertinent€proceedings€were€interpreted€for€the€benefit€of€theŠ T¤ Šaccused.Š =  ŠĢ362.€€With€regard€to€the€question€of€the€independence€of€the€judges,€he€stated€that€in€general€theŠ  _ Šjudges€were€appointed€and€dismissed€by€the€Governor.€€However,€in€all€these€matters€he€acted€onŠ ų H Šadvice€of€the€Judicial€Commission.€€For€the€dismissal€of€a€judge,€the€opinion€of€the€Privy€CouncilŠ į 1  Šwas€indispensable.€€In€practice,€this€guarantee€ensured€security€of€tenure€to€judges.€€However,€heŠ Ź   Špointed€out€that,€as€in€many€other€countries,€the€necessary€funds€for€the€functioning€of€the€judiciaryŠ ³  Šdid€not€depend€on€the€legislative€and€executive€bodies€but€were€a€permanent€charge€on€public€funds.€Š œģ  ŠThe€question€of€inflation,€however,€should€be€taken€into€account€in€the€matter.€€He€believed€theŠ …Õ  Šquestion€merited€further€study.Š n¾  ŠĢ363.€€The€representative€stated€that€if€there€was€a€conflict€between€the€provisions€regarding€theŠ @ Šfundamental€rights€contained€in€the€Constitution€of€certain€territories,€the€question€would€be€settledŠ )y Šby€a€superior€court€such€as€the€Supreme€Court.Š b ŠĢ364.€€In€reply€to€a€question€concerning€the€shifting€of€the€burden€of€proof€from€the€prosecution€toŠ ä4 Šthe€accused,€as€referred€to€in€the€report€on€Hong€Kong,€the€representative€stated€that€in€principle€theŠ Ķ Šburden€of€proof€rested€on€the€prosecution.€However,€in€certain€special€cases€it€was€shifted€to€theŠ ¶ Šaccused,€for€example€in€cases€where€a€person€was€found€to€be€in€possession€of€explosives€orŠ Ÿļ Šdangerous€drugs.€€In€this€case,€it€was€for€the€accused€to€explain€the€lawfulness€of€his€possession.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ365.€€With€regard€to€the€question€concerning€the€entrenchment€of€fundamental€rights€and€freedomŠ ZŖ Šin€Orders„in„Council,€for€example,€the€Bermuda€Constitution€Order€1968,€he€stated€that€if€theŠ C“ Šentrenchment€was€enacted€by€an€Order„in„Council€the€rights€could€not€be€affected€by€laws€adoptedŠ ,| Šby€the€local€legislature.€€Sometimes,€the€Order„in„Council€contained€provisions€which€stipulated€thatŠ e Šthey€could€only€be€amended€by€a€special€procedure,€for€example,€by€a€two„thirds€majority€of€theŠ žN ŠParliament€or€by€referendum.€€These€guarantees€had€proved€to€be€effective.Š ē 7 ŠĢ366.€€In€reply€to€a€question€under€article€15€of€the€Covenant€concerning€the€adoption€of€an€ņņex€postŠ ¹" ! Šfactoóó€legislation,€he€stated€that€so€far€not€a€single€territory€had€enacted€legislation€in€contradictionŠ ¢#ņ" Šwith€article€15€of€the€Covenant.€€In€this€connection€he€referred€to€the€reply€concerning€the€UnitedŠ ‹$Ū# ŠKingdom€in€this€respect€contained€in€paragraph€16€of€document€Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.70€of€1€January€1978,Š t%Ä $ Šwhich€was€also€valid€for€the€dependent€territories.Š ]&­!% ŠĢ367.€€Responding€to€a€question€under€article€19€of€the€Covenant€the€representative€replied€thatŠ /(#' Šexcept€in€Hong€Kong,€for€reasons€which€were€already€explained,€political€parties€were€allowed;€theyŠ )h$( Šcould€criticize€freely€the€local€Government€and€the€Governor.€€Voluntary€organizations€and€tradeŠ *Q%) Šunion€meetings€were€allowed€to€flourish€and€public€meetings€and€discussions€were€free€and€lawful.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ368.€€As€to€the€questions€asked€in€relation€to€paragraph€58€of€the€report€on€Belize,€he€stated€that€theŠ ¼, (, Šlist€of€limitations€on€freedom€of€expression€was€exhaustive.Š „-õ(- Š‡369.€€Responding€to€questions€under€articles€19€and€21€of€the€Covenant€concerning€the€definitionŠ ° Šof€š šblasphemousšš€and€š šseditiousšš€he€stated€that€he€would€provide€the€Committee€with€the€definitionŠ ™é Šof€these€expressions€at€a€later€stage.€€In€the€meantime€he€called€the€attention€of€the€Committee€to€theŠ ‚Ņ Šlaw€on€š šSedition€and€Undesirable€Publicationšš€of€the€British€Virgin€Islands€which€contained€aŠ k» Šdefinition€of€š šSeditious€intentionšš€as€follows:€š šAn€intention€to€bring€into€hatred€or€contempt€or€toŠ T¤ Šexcite€dissatisfaction€against€the€person€of€Her€Majesty,€her€heirs,€or€successors,€or€the€GovernmentŠ =  Šof€the€Colony€as€by€law€established€...€to€incite€the€inhabitants€of€the€Colony€to€attempt€to€procureŠ & v Šthe€alteration,€otherwise€than€by€lawful€means,€of€any€other€matter€in€the€Colony€by€law€establishedŠ  _ Š...€to€bring€hatred€or€dissatisfaction€among€the€inhabitants€of€the€Colonyšš.€€However,€the€lawŠ ų H Šexpressly€provided€that€no€publication€could€be€considered€seditious€simply€because€it€sought€toŠ į 1  Šshow€that€the€Government€had€committed€an€error;€to€underline€the€errors€or€the€shortcomings€ofŠ Ź   Šthe€Constitution€of€the€Colony;€or€to€persuade€the€inhabitants€of€the€Colony€to€try€to€change€by€legalŠ ³  Šmeans€the€legislation€of€the€Colony.€€He€stated€that€a€simple€criticism€of€the€Government€wasŠ œģ  Šcertainly€not€a€seditious€act.Š …Õ  ŠĢ370.€€Commenting€on€the€observations€made€on€article€20€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€statedŠ W§  Šthat€the€United€Kingdom€had€made€a€reservation€with€respect€to€this€article.€€He€referred€toŠ @ Šdocument€Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/2.€Š )y ŠĢ371.€€In€reply€to€a€question€under€article€23€of€the€Covenant€concerning€the€marriage€laws€in€forceŠ ūK Šin€Belize,€the€representative€stated€that€in€accordance€with€the€existing€law€persons€below€the€ageŠ ä4 Šof€18€required€parental€permission€to€get€married.€€With€regard€to€a€question€whether€the€law€in€theŠ Ķ ŠBritish€Virgin€Islands€provided€for€alimony€and€child€care€in€case€of€divorce,€he€stated€that€alimonyŠ ¶ Šwas€provided€by€article€22€of€the€Matrimonial€Cases€Ordinance€of€the€Territory€and€article€25€of€theŠ Ÿļ ŠsŌ_ŌameŌ_Ō€Ordinance€authorized€the€court€to€decide€on€the€custody€of€the€children.Š  ˆŲ Šņ ņŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€€A/40/40€(1985)ó óŠ ° ŠĢĢ518.€€In€accordance€with€the€statement€on€its€duties€under€article€40€of€the€Covenant€adopted€at€itsŠ l¼ Šeleventh€session€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/18)€and€the€guidelines€adopted€at€its€thirteenth€session€regarding€the€formŠ