Rights of the Individual

As provided under the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of
Hong Kong and the Basic Law of the HKSAR of the People's Republic of
China, 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 continue to remain in
force after June 30, 1997.

The HKSAR continues to abide by the following major international
conventions on human rights: the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention Against
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

The Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance (Cap. 383), which was enacted
in 1991 to give effect in the local law to the provisions of the ICCPR,
continues in force.

On June 26, 1997, the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance was
enacted to outlaw discrimination against a person on the ground that the
person has the responsibility for the care of an immediate family member.
This Ordinance, together with the Sex Discrimination Ordinance (Cap.
480) and the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (Cap. 487), are overseen
by the Equal Opportunities Commission.

The Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486), enacted in August
1995 to protect an individual's right to privacy with respect to personal
data, continues to give statutory effect to internationally recognised data
protection principles. In 1997, the Privacy Commissioner for Personal
Data undertook a variety of activities to promote compliance, awareness
and understanding of the ordinance, including the approval of codes of
practice, the issue of fact sheets and guidance materials on its application.
The commissioner also handled complaints lodged under the Ordinance.

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