Central officials solicit views from HK on law interpretation of new CE's tenure

Deputy Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Qiao Xiaoyang held two meetings with nearly 300 Hong Kong personnel from various walks of life in Shenzhen City Thursday, in a bid to solicit views on the tenure of the new Hong Kong Chief Executive (CE) through by-election and the NPC Standing Committee's interpretation on the issue.

Entrusted by Monday's chairman and vice-chairpersons' meeting of the NPC Standing Committee, Qiao frankly exchanged views with Hong Kong deputies to the NPC and Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and personnel from various walks of life in Hong Kong.

Li Fei, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee; Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and Wang Fengchao, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's government in Hong Kong also attended the two meetings.

Most of the speakers at the two meetings believed that under the Basic Law, the CE of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) should be selected by the Election Committee and then reported to the Central People's Government for approval.

They said, according to the Basic Law, the term of the Election Committee shall be five years and the committee's duty is to select a CE with a five-year term. In case a CE resigns before the five-year term expires, the term of a new CE by-elected by the Election Committee shall be the remaining term of the outgoing CE, instead of a new five-year tenure.

They said, according to the Annex I of the Basic Law, the methods for selecting the Chief Executive for the terms subsequent to the year 2007 could be amended.

In April last year, the NPC Standing Committee made a decision on the selection of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in 2007 and the forming of the Legislative Council in 2008.

The decision definitely ruled out the universal suffrage for the selection of the Chief Executive in 2007 while stipulating that the methods for the CE selection could be properly amended in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress.

This indicates that the third-term CE will be selected in 2007.The by-elected new CE should serve the remaining tenure of the second-term, instead of a complete five-year term of office.

The by-elected new CE should serve the remaining tenure of the second-term, instead of a complete five-year term of office.

Most speakers at the two meetings agreed that according to the Constitution and the Basic Law, the NPC Standing Committee is empowered to render an interpretation of the Basic Law.

Due to differences over whether the new by-elected CE should serve the remainder of the predecessor's term or a full five-year term, and based on a report submitted by HK Acting CE, the State Council has submitted a proposal to the NPC Standing Committee, asking for an interpretation of the related provisions of the Basic Law in order to ensure the implementation of the Basic Law, a smooth election of the new CE and safeguarding HK's prosperity and stability.

The proposal will be put into the agenda of the chairman and vice-chairpersons' meeting of the NPC Standing Committee. The move is completely lawful, reasonable and necessary and is supported bya majority of Hong Kong residents.

The Basic Law is widely viewed as a national law promulgated by the NPC as well as a constitutional law of HKSAR which serves as the foundation of HKSAR's rule of law.

To respect and safeguard rule of law in HKSAR, the top priority should be given to respect and safeguard the authority of the Basic Law, including the law interpretation right of the NPC Standing Committee stipulated in the Basic Law.

Qiao pointed out that the NPC Standing Committee pays great attention to the views from all walks of life in Hong Kong. The meetings are aimed at collecting various views from all sectors, including adverse opinions.

The mainstream opinions of the participants to the meetings supported the decision made by the NPC Standing Committee to list the proposal of interpretation of the Basic Law into the agenda of the chairman and vice-chairpersons' meeting of the NPC Standing Committee.

Qiao reiterated that the central authorities will unswervingly implement the principle of "One Country, Two Systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy, handle Hong Kong affairs strictly according to the Basic Law and maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

The central authorities will do whatever beneficial to Hong Kong. All work done by the central authorities will benefit Hong Kong and will be supported by the Hong Kong people, said Qiao.

Source: Xinhua