Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance
The Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance (HKBORO) is the law that brings most of the rights in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) into Hong Kong’s own legal system, as they apply to Hong Kong.
Key points
- What it is: A HK law (Chapter 383) that incorporates ICCPR rights into Hong Kong law, with some small changes to fit Hong Kong’s situation.
- When it started: Introduced in 1990, passed in June 1991, and came into force on 7 June 1991.
- What it contains: The Ordinance has 14 sections in three parts. Part II reproduces the ICCPR rights (with minor Hong Kong adjustments). Part III lists the United Kingdom’s reservations about ICCPR as they apply to Hong Kong.
- Why it was created: After the 1989 events in China, Hong Kong wanted a domestic framework to protect basic rights and freedoms.
- Special status: The Ordinance was given entrenched status in Hong Kong’s constitutional documents, meaning laws after 8 June 1991 should not restrict rights in a way that conflicts with ICCPR as applied to Hong Kong. Some pre-1997 laws were updated to conform.
- After 1997: China objected to the entrenched status, and in 1997 a Standing Committee decision limited some aspects of the Ordinance for the Hong Kong SAR. Nevertheless, ICCPR rights and the HKBORO remain part of Hong Kong’s constitutional framework through Article 39 of the Basic Law, and the courts can review laws for rights compliance.
- How it works today: The Ordinance started a new era of judicial review in Hong Kong, with courts evaluating laws against rights protections. It has helped develop tests like proportionality to judge whether restrictions on rights are justified, and it can require the government to take positive steps to protect rights.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 19:07 (CET).