Hong Kong Ordinances

HONG KONG BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE - SECT 2

Interpretation

(Past version on 30/06/1997).

(1) In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires-

"article" means an article of the Bill of Rights;

"Bill of Rights" (人權法案) means the Hong Kong Bill of Rights set out in
Part II;

"commencement date" (生效日期) means the date on which this Ordinance
comes into operation;

"legislation" (法例) means legislation that can be amended by an Ordinance;

"pre-existing legislation" (先前法例) means legislation enacted before the
commencement date.

(2) The Bill of Rights is subject to Part III.

(3) (*Not adopted as the Laws of the HKSAR)

(4) Nothing in this Ordinance shall be interpreted as implying for the
Government or any authority, group or person any right to engage in any
activity or perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and
freedoms recognized in the Bill of Rights or at their limitation to a greater
extent than is provided for in the Bill. [cf. ICCPR Art. 5.1]

(5) There shall be no restriction upon or derogation from any of the
fundamental human rights recognized or existing in Hong Kong pursuant to law,
conventions, regulations or custom on the pretext that the Bill of  Rights
does not recognize such rights or that it recognizes them to a lesser extent.
[cf. ICCPR Art. 5.2]

(6) A heading to any article does not have any legislative effect and does not
in any way vary, limit or extend the meaning of the article. (Enacted 1991)
___________________________________________________________________________
____ Note:

* See Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on
Treatment of the Laws Previously in Force in Hong Kong in accordance with
Article 160 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of
the People's Republic of China, which is published in Volume 1, P. 13/1.

"article"

"Bill of Rights" (人權法案)

"commencement date" (生效日期)

"legislation" (法例)

"pre-existing legislation" (先前法例)