A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced this morning that to give an expression to the principle of "One Country, Two Systems", the Chinese Government will provide relevant United Nations departments with information on the situation of implementing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The spokesman said that this was to enable the relevant UN departments and the international community to have a better understanding of the human rights conditions in the HKSAR.

The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, welcomed the arrangement.

He said: "The arrangement not only fully reflects the determination of the Central People's Government to fully implement 'One Country, Two Systems', it also demonstrates that the CPG is willing to handle with flexibility matters in connection with the SAR in order to fully take account of the practical needs of the SAR. I believe the arrangement by the CPG will be welcomed by the Hong Kong community as a whole."

he report on the implementation of the two covenants in the SAR will be prepared by the SAR Government. It will be forwarded to the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR. The report will then be submitted to the UN via China's representatives to the United Nations.