i am sky tao

i write i create i perform i care

http://www.skytao.com

September 2009

Freedom of speech is the meeting point of all human rights. It is intimately linked to
freedom of conscience and belief, inherent to individual dignity, but also to freedom of
opinion and information in an open society, “without border considerations”. It is both an
individual and collective freedom.

Freedom of expression for the purposes of this document is synonymous with free speech as they both are
the act and intentions of the sharing of information, beliefs and opinions for the greater good and benefit
towards an open society.

The notion and understanding of ones right to free speech has been globally and internationally
recognised by the First Amendment in the United States Constitution, Article 10 of the European
Convention on Human Rights, section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Article 19 of
the Indian Constitution and more specifically and in relation to this essay, the Basic Law of Hong Kong.

The Basic Law of Hong Kong address the rights of freedom of speech in Article 11 to be afforded to all
residents of Hong Kong with specific details of such rights to freedom to be understood categorically as
that “The freedom of the person of Hong Kong residents shall be inviolable.”

Despite the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Hong Kong the actuality and
reality of the inherent rights that this convention affords is not in practise, not known or not awarding the
freedom it guarantees to the very people that deserve and need this protection.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child specifies that:

Every child has the right to:

- Free primary education
- Access to secondary education and vocational training
- An education that develops his or her personality, talents, and mental and physical abilities to their
fullest
- An education that prepares him or her for an active adult life in a free society
- An education that fosters respect for his or her own family, cultural identity, and language for his or her
country; and for the natural environment
- An education in the spirit of understanding peace, tolerance and equality
- Leisure, play and the opportunity to participate in cultural and artistic activities
- The opportunity to enjoy his or her culture, profess and practice his or her religion, use his or her
language

Every child has the right to

- Freedom of expression
- Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
- Freedom of association and peaceful assembly
- Information from a diversity of sources

My question now is, although a child has been afforded these rights is there a person, a forum and a voice
that represents them?

For the purposes of supporting my application and the project that I have undertaken on my own I hereby
enclose my legal argument which is specific to Hong Kong, S.A.R and in direct response to the recent
report issued by the Legislative Council.

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