THE Preliminary Working Committee's (PWC) legal sub-group yesterday rejected calls to allow the post-1997 government to decide the fate of the Bill of Rights. The idea has been championed by local pro-China figures such as Tsang Yok-sing. PWC member Tam Yiu-chung said members had stuck to their plan to water down the bill. The National People's Congress Standing Committee would reinstate the original versions of six ordinances amended since the bill was enacted. Sub-group member Lo Tak-shing said Hong Kong had no say on whether to submit a human rights report to the United Nations after 1997. 'It is different from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade which is related to commerce and trade, hence Hong Kong can join in,' he said. 'Handing in human rights reports involves the Chinese Government, because it concerns diplomacy.' Mr Tam said membership of the Preparatory Committee would be announced at the end of next month.
