Interpretations of Basic Law 'timely, necessary': Editorial

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 07, 2004

Interpretations of Basic Law 'timely, necessary': Editorial

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The official People's Daily describes the interpretations of clauses of the annexes of the Basic Law of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as an important move for the central government to implement the policies of "One Country, Two Systems" and the Basic Law itself, and maintain long-term stability and prosperity in Hong Kong.

In a commentary published Wednesday, April 7, 04, the newspaper says the interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) is helpful for the Hong Kong people to have a comprehensive and correct understanding of the Basic Law, in the interest of properly handling the issue of constitutional development in Hong Kong in accordance with the Basic Law.

The NPC Standing Committee has been cautious in exercising its authorized power of interpreting the Basic Law, as it takes into account the interpretations and opinions of various social strata, sectors and various sides.

The commentary says that the NPC Standing Committee has consulted the Committee for the Basic Law of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, heard comments from the NPC deputies and the Standing Committee members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Hong Kong, and heeded the opinions of various circles in Hong Kong collected by the HKSAR task force on constitutional development, as well as the opinions of the task force itself.

Interpretations of Clause 7 of Annex I and Clause 3 of Annex IIof the Hong Kong Basic Law by the Standing Committee is timely and necessary, it says.

The interpretations make it clear that it falls under the authority of the NPC Standing Committee to decide whether the provisions concerning selecting of the Chief Executive and forming of the Legislative Council need to be amended or not, and the related bill or amendment to the law can only be tabled by the HKSAR government to HKSAR legislative council, according to the commentary.

The interpretation conforms to the stipulation of the Basic Law that the Central Authorities have the right to decide from the very beginning to the end on constitutional development of the HKSAR, the commentary says.

The commentary points out that interpretations have clarified different understandings of the clauses of the Basic Law by Hong Kong society. The specific clauses can only be understood correctly when all the provisions of the Basic Law on the relations between the Central Government and HKSAR, the legal status of HKSAR and related stipulations are taken into account, the commentary says.

With regard to the different understandings of the clauses by people in Hong Kong, the commentary says the fundamental reason is the different understandings of the relationship between the Central Government and the region.

The high-degree of autonomy for Hong Kong has been authorized by the Central Authorities, the constitutional structure of HKSAR is provided for by the Basic Law formulated by the NPC, and local government has no authority to decide or change its constitutional system, says the commentary.

Hong Kong compatriots are urged to safeguard the authority of the Basic Law and the Interpretations by the NPC Standing Committee, and properly handle the constitutional development in Hong Kong according to the Basic Law and the Interpretations so as to promote the democratic system that suits the actual conditions of Hong Kong step by step, and lay a sound social and political foundation for long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.

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