76. Mr. Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Foeign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statememt of progress on drafting a constitution for Hong Kong.
§ Mr. RentonHong Kong's current constitutional arrangements are contained in the Hong Kong Letters Patent 1917 to 1986 and the Hong Kong Royal Instructions 1917 to 1986. These arrangements will end when British sovereignty and jurisdiction over Hong Kong ends on 1 July 1997. From that date, Hong Kong will be a special administrative region of the People's Republic of656W China. A Basic Law of the SAR is now being drafted by a Committee of the National People's Congress of the PRC, in close consultation with Hong Kong people.
§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many men were imprisoned in Hong Kong in each of the years 1984 and 1985 for consensual homosexual acts with (a) males between the ages of 16 and 21 years and (b) males over the age of 21 years; and for each category, and each year, what were the maximum, minimum and average sentences served by such men.
§ Mr. RentonThe information requested by the hon. Member is not readily available. However, in 1984 one male between the age of 16 and 20 was sentenced to imprisonment of three to six months for homosexual offences. Two males ages 21 or over were sentenced to imprisonment, one for six to 12 months, the other for 12 to 18 months. In 1985 no males under 21 were sentenced to imprisonment for homosexual offences. Two males over 21 were sentenced to imprisonment, one for six to 12 months, the other for 12 to 18 months.