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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, met with the visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, at his office today (Tuesday).

Mrs Robinson was on a half-day visit to Hong Kong.

Mr Tung told Mrs Robinson that Hong Kong had an impressive human rights record, one of the best in Asia and comparable to that of most of the world's advanced countries. He assured Mrs Robinson that Hong Kong was strongly committed to the protection of human rights.

"Hong Kong's human rights record speaks for itself. Ours is an open and free society. Everyone is free to come and see Hong Kong for himself," he said.

"We have a tradition of the rule of law, an independent judiciary, and numerous channels for redress of complaints. We would never compromise on these principles. We guard these institutions very jealously, as they represent the foundations of HongKong's success," Mr Tung said.

The Basic Law entrenched the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)- as applied to Hong Kong - at the constitutional level.

"Additionally, the Bill of Rights Ordinance gives the provisions of the ICCPR direct effect in domestic law. Together these things provide a solid foundation for human rights protection,"he said.

Mr Tung also brought Mrs Robinson up to date on developments in Hong Kong, including the successful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems". On constitutional developments, we were proceeding according to the Basic Law to conduct elections, he said.

Mrs Robinson was given the opportunity to listen to a wide variety of views on human rights while rushing through a hectic schedule today.

She was briefed on the current situation on human rights in Hong Kong in meeting with senior government officials, including the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan; Secretary for Justice, Ms Elsie Leung; Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr David Lan; Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Michael Suen; Secretary for Security, Mrs Regina Ip; and Solicitor General, Mr Robert Allcock.

She also met a number of Legislative Council members and non-governmental organisations, and exchanged views on matters related to human rights.

She left for Beijing this evening to attend the 8th Workshop on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asia and Pacific Region to be held from March 1 to 3.

Photo:The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, met the visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, at his office.

End/Tuesday, February 29, 2000

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