ACTION to extend two international human rights covenants to post-1997 Hong Kong should be speeded up, according to the independent Human Rights Commission.
Spokesman Anthony Chiu Sin-wing warned human rights would be endangered after 1997, because China was not a signatory to either the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights or the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Although the extension of the two treaties to the Special Administrative Region was guaranteed in the Joint Declaration, Mr Chiu said the protection was inadequate.
He said the essence of the two treaties was to allow international scrutiny and protection for people's rights.
The signatories to the agreements would have to submit a report to Geneva on the country's human rights and attend public hearings every five years.
Mr Chiu said the rectification procedures were not complicated but it took time to secure an agreement from the Chinese Government to the application of such sensitive international laws.
