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)