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SCMP Reporter

THE chances of human rights laws not being diluted after the handover are slim, according to Secretary of Justice-designate Elsie Leung Oi-sie.

  Ms Leung, who is to meet Attorney-General Jeremy Mathews tomorrow, said yesterday that the Preparatory Committee sub-group's proposal would not curtail civil liberties.

  The amendments to the Public Order and Societies ordinances by the Government were unacceptable, Ms Leung said.

  On Friday, Law Society president Christopher Chan Cheuk said that Ms Leung had lobbied Beijing behind the scenes to have fewer ordinances repealed.

  But Ms Leung maintained yesterday that the post-handover executive council would decide how to amend the laws based on public consultation.

  'If the results of the public consultation really call for not diluting the laws - which I think is unlikely - it would be left to the provisional legislature to decide whether to accept it or not. The chances of not diluting the laws will be very low because that would mean overruling the suggestions of the Preparatory Committee,' she said.

  She set a baseline for any amendments to be in line with the two international covenants on human rights.

  Her meeting tomorrow is to learn more about the workings of the Legal Department. 'The Attorney-General will remain in office until June 30, 1997. I will not interfere with his job as I have no authority to do so,' she said.

  She added that Mr Mathews and the five divisional heads had written to offer help if needed.

  Ms Leung met Chief Executive-designate Tung Chee-hwa yesterday for about two hours but they did not discuss the dilution of human rights laws.



Little chance of undiluted rights laws, says next legal chief