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External sources (not reviewed)

Human Rights Watch (HRW) lamented the Government’s decision to reject the recommendations to urge the release of human rights defenders and civil society activists.

It was also regrettable that nothing had been done to promote economic growth for the benefit of all.

As an elected Member from the New Territories North, I feel very sorry indeed that that particular centre cannot open upon completion to nurture more children and young people.

In the 2000 Millennium Declaration (General Assembly resolution 55/2), political leaders committed themselves to “spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty”.

On the ongoing political disputes arising from the expansion of the Accountability System, I must admit that I did feel a bit sorry and disappointed at first, but on second thought, I realize that the contentions are a process which could not and should not be avoided in the course of the constitutional development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), for it is only through rational public debates and in-depth review could the Accountability System be continuously rectified and the whole system become more mature, thus building up a foundation for extensive public recognition and acceptance.

In the course of CHING Cheong's trial, what struck me most is not just the backwardness of the rule of law in China but also the resignation of the Chinese people and their fear for power.

Unfortunately, owing to a lack of the ability or perhaps even the will to attack the evil at the root, our hope for a world free of conflict, like the line of the horizon, recedes as we approach it.

Under the circumstances, the early retirement of some senior officers, though a regrettable loss of experience, is an opportunity for regeneration.

We certainly do not want to see the MTR joining the ranks of these unfortunate public bodies.

(b) Regret the lack of progress [...] [...]

Hong Kong has always been a tolerant and caring society, and it will be sad to see any change of that approach by the community.

We are sorry that they were not given work injury compensations.

The representative of Belgium expressed a feeling of disappointment and shame that some delegations had hidden behind procedural tactics, instead of voting on substance.

President, it is ludicrous for him to say that what happened was a pity and disappointing, and that the controversy cannot and should not be avoided.

Following the Judgments of the European Court in these cases, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted, on 7 April 2005, an interim resolution on those conditions of detention in which it invited the competent Greek authorities “to continue and intensify their efforts to align the conditions of detention with the requirements of the Convention [for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms], as set out in particular in the Court’s judgements and to look into the question of ensuring the availability of effective domestic remedies”.542 In communications from the Greek Government at the time the cases were being considered by the Committee of Ministers, there was confirmation of the lamentable state of detention facilities in Greece.

[...] are deeply sorry about this.

I feel very sorry for her departure.

It is indeed pitiful that government officials know so little about this.

[...] [...] insignificant and regret that to this [...] [...]

It does grieve me that the vulnerable "one country, two systems" is so fragile that it is unable to stand the test.

It saddens me to inform the Council that the fighting between the two belligerent parties is still continuing and that the security situation in parts of Darfur remains tense and volatile.

Although the progress on the Employment (Amendment) Bill seemed to cast doubt on the effectiveness of the system, the final result was acceptable to all, the exception of course being the unfortunate resignation of Mr LAU Chin-shek.

MS MIRIAM LAU (in Cantonese): Madam President, I believe that besides feeling stunned, irate and sorry for the horrible death of Ms KAM and her two daughters in the family tragedy that occurred in Tin Shui Wai last month, all of us do also share one common belief, the belief that one single family tragedy is too many, and, we must take preventive measures before it is too late.

It had lamented the fact that the Special Rapporteur had exceeded his mandate, unilaterally attempted to change the definition of a universally accepted term, based his definition on premises that did not exist in international human rights law and made undefined terms the main focus of his work.