AMNESTY International has called for major changes to Hong Kong's human rights policy to help bring the territory in line with international standards.
On the eve of the release of Amnesty's latest annual international report, the organisation said it would continue to push for a human rights commission in Hong Kong, which it stated was the only reliable means of safeguarding people's rights in the run up to 1997.
Hong Kong Amnesty spokesman Robyn Kilpatrick said the rejection by Governor Chris Patten last week of proposals to set up such a commission had been ''very disappointing'' but pledged that the campaign was not yet over.
She welcomed the allocation last week of $20 million for human rights education. She said the group was preparing a proposal to introduce human rights training in schools, the civil service, the police force and other professions where changes in attitude were urgently needed.
Ms Kilpatrick noted the importance of establishing an independent Legal Aid Department to ensure people could apply for aid to challenge the Government on possible rights violations.
She said Amnesty would monitor carefully the findings of the working group assigned earlier this month to reviewing the role of the Legal Aid Department.