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Draft interpretations on HK Basic Law reviewed
XinHua ^ | 2004-04-02

Posted on 04/03/2004 8:12:50 AM PST by Dr. Marten

Draft interpretations on HK Basic Law reviewed
www.chinaview.cn 2004-04-02 18:52:58

Related: Basic Law interpretation not to harm high degree of autonomy: official

 

    BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, China's national legislature, began here 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 thebasis 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 differentinterests 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 peoplefrom 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 groupsas well as Hong Kong's long-time prosperity, with the aim to make the Basic Law correctly understood and implemented, the meeting ofthe 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 isa need to amend the provisions of this annex, such amendments mustbe made with the endorsement of a two-thirds majority of all the members of the Council and the consent of the Chief Executive, andthey 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 ofthe 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. Enditem

 


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: china; hongkong; hongkongchina

1 posted on 04/03/2004 8:12:50 AM PST by Dr. Marten
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To: FreepForever
Ping!
2 posted on 04/03/2004 8:26:00 AM PST by Dr. Marten (Treason...How can such a small word mean so little to so many?)
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To: All
Rank Location Receipts Donors/Avg Freepers/Avg Monthlies
11 New Jersey 296.00
8
37.00


150.00
8

Thanks for donating to Free Republic!

Move your locale up the leaderboard!

3 posted on 04/03/2004 8:27:25 AM PST by Support Free Republic (I'd rather be sleeping. Let's get this over with so I can go back to sleep!)
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To: Dr. Marten
Ah yes, a "court" that is "interpreting" a law. I have feeling it is the future of the USofA.
4 posted on 04/03/2004 8:35:25 AM PST by glorgau
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To: Dr. Marten
How come you so often post the lying propaganda from XinHua?

We know what this means (finger across throat for Hong Kong).

5 posted on 04/03/2004 9:03:10 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: tallhappy
"How come you so often post the lying propaganda from XinHua?"

Well for one, I don't believe in reading only sources that I agree with. That causes intellectual stagnation.

Two. I think it is important to read what the other sources are saying so that you can gain some perspective as to why the people of that area think as they do.

For example. While I was in China last month I went down to the public post board every morning to read the news. It was not surprising that there was very little to no news about the situation with Taiwan. The main topic being reported was the war in Iraq and US casualties.

Maybe you like to read from only those sources that you agree with. I don't.
6 posted on 04/03/2004 10:23:25 AM PST by Dr. Marten (Treason...How can such a small word mean so little to so many?)
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To: Dr. Marten
There is a huge difference between reading only things one agrees with and reading XinHua etc...

It's a false analogy you've set up. I can read differing views with regard to US politics, for example, but that doesn't mean it has to be DNC press releases or Carville missives.

But it doesn't answer the question. You post mainly pro-China sources. Without comment. Sometimes you indicate you actually take them seriously.

The Straits Times is better to get the feel of Beijing's positions and plans.

7 posted on 04/03/2004 12:52:10 PM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: tallhappy
Read my post again.

I posted no false analogy.

I offer no comment because most of the time I don't have time to. I am a double major with 3 minors. I usually carry 21 hours each semester. In addition I also work no less than 25 hours per week for a large multi-national corporation that keeps me very busy.

I don't have the time to keybord jockey.

"The Straits Times is better to get the feel of Beijing's positions and plans."

That is your view. I have read a lot of mixed information from them.

Like I said before, most people who follow Chinese politics know what is on the up and up. I post the pro-Beijing sources because I feel that it is important for others to see what kind of bullshit they are feeding their people and anyone else who happens to believe it.

Think what you want.

8 posted on 04/03/2004 1:40:12 PM PST by Dr. Marten (Treason...How can such a small word mean so little to so many?)
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To: Dr. Marten
Thanks for the ping! I've been away for quite a while and you are the first Freeper I replied to since the last 5 months. I've joined and become the Secretariat of an anti-government group here and continue to fight the ChiCom. Only this time, I am backed by a strong group.

Monitoring all ChiCom sources is part of my job. Please continue with your good work. You are helping me to understand Western response to ChiCom related issues. Thanks!
9 posted on 04/05/2004 10:22:18 PM PDT by FreepForever (ChiCom is the hub of all evil)
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