Hong Kong's Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung said yesterday
that the appointment of the special administrative region's chief
executive is clearly the responsibility of central government.
Speaking on Radio Television Hong Kong's Letter to Hong Kong,
Leung said the Basic Law confers a high degree of autonomy, but not
absolute autonomy.
She said Article 158 (1) of the Basic Law provides that the
power of interpretation of the Basic Law shall be vested in the
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
Leung said the current dispute over the term of the new chief
executive will be resolved in line with the law.
(China Daily March 21, 2005)