The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, China's
national legislature, began in Beijing Friday to deliberate draft
interpretations on Clause 7 of Annex I and Clause 3 of Annex II of
the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(HKSAR) concerning issues of constitutional development of the
region.
Deputy Director Li Fei of the Commission of Legislative Affairs
of the NPC Standing Committee explained the draft interpretations
to lawmakers. He said the existing provisions on Hong Kong's
constitutional developments in the Basic Law have been made on the
basis of the "one country, two systems" principle. The provisions
were in line with the central government's policies towards Hong
Kong and its legal status and real conditions, including different
interests of social strata, to benefit the development of Hong
Kong's capitalist economy.
The effective proportion of Hong Kong's former constitutional
system has been preserved by the Basic Law, which also made clear
that constitutional development must proceed step by step out of
its own real conditions and with balanced representation of people
from all walks of life, Li said.
"These important principles are intended to safeguard Hong
Kong's long-term prosperity and stability," he said.
"Currently different understandings exist in Hong Kong society
on Clause 7 of Annex I and Clause 3 of Annex II of the Basic Law,"
he said.
As Hong Kong's future constitutional developments are related to
the implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle and
the Basic Law, and to the ties between the Central Government and
HKSAR, and to the interests of various Hong Kong social groups as
well as Hong Kong's long-time prosperity, with the aim to make the
Basic Law correctly understood and implemented, the meeting of the
chairman and vice-chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee has
proposed the draft interpretations to the NPC Standing Committee
for deliberation in accordance with procedures defined by the
Constitution and the Basic Law based on suggestions from NPC
deputies, he said.
Clause 7 of Annex I of the Basic Law says: "If there is a need
to amend the method for selecting the Chief Executives for the
terms subsequent to the year 2007, such amendments must be made
with endorsement of a two-thirds majority of all the members of the
Legislative Council and the consent of the Chief Executive, and
they shall be reported to the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress for approval."
Clause 3 of Annex II regards the method for the formation of the
Legislative Council and its voting procedures after 2007. It says:
"With regard to the method of forming the Legislative Council of
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and its procedures for
voting on bills and motions after 2007, if there is a need to amend
the provisions of this annex, such amendments must be made with the
endorsement of a two-thirds majority of all the members of the
Council and the consent of the Chief Executive, and they shall be
reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress for the record."
Before tabling the motion to the NPC Standing Committee, members
of Hong Kong SAR Basic Law Committee under the NPC Standing
Committee, NPC deputies from Hong Kong and the members of the
Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference National Committee have been consulted, and public
opinion in Hong Kong collected by a special constitutional reform
task force of the SAR Government has also been reviewed, Li
said.?
(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2004)