B3-1573/93

Resolution on the Community's contribution to safeguarding human rights in Macao

The European Parliament,

A.whereas the Chinese territory of Macao, at present under Portuguese administration, is to revert to the sovereignty of the People's Republic of China on 20 December 1999,

B.whereas the People's Republic of China will apply the existing legislation provided it is translated into Chinese,

C.having regard to the information obtained by its delegation which visited Macao on 6 and 7 November 1993,

D.whereas there is only a small number of experts capable of translating this legislation, including such essential elements as the criminal code, the laws governing association, etc.,

1.Considers it essential that the Community should take action to ensure rapid translation of the existing legislation within the deadline, to permit this legislation to be applied when the time comes by the Chinese authorities;

2.Calls on the Commission, as a matter of urgency, to prepare and implement a programme of aid for the training of legal translators into Chinese and to inform Parliament of the measures which it intends to adopt and, subsequently, of their outcome;

3.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Governor of Macao.