| Abstract | The legal sub-group of the Preliminary Working Committee long ago decided that the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance ('BORO') is to be amended before it operates in the Special Administrative Region. Further, certain other ordinances, most noticeably the Public Order Ordinance and the Societies Ordinance, are to extend through 1997 only in the form they took before amendments designed to render them consistent with the Bill of Rights were passed. This controversial decision has been endorsed by Chinese officials, the Preparatory Committee, the Chief Executive-designate, Mr Tung Chee-hwa, and the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. It is arguable, however, that this exercise is as legally futile as it is politically damaging. |
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