Speaking at a symposium on constitutional development, Stephen
Lam, Hong Kong's secretary for Constitutional Affairs and head of
the Constitutional Development Task Force, said on Saturday that
China's top legislature's interpretation of the Basic Law will not
harm either the implementation of "one country, two systems" or
Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy.
Lam pointed out that according to Article 62 of the
Constitution, the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress (NPC) is responsible for determining the constitution of
the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR). Article 158 of
the Basic Law states that the NPC Standing Committee is entrusted
to interpret the Basic Law.
Lam said the early interpretation and clear definition of the
articles will be good for Hong Kong.
Financial Secretary Henry Tang said on Saturday that it is the
legitimate right of the NPC Standing Committee to interpret the
Basic Law, and the act will not affect the confidence of foreign
investors in Hong Kong.
He said foreign investors care about Hong Kong's economic
structure and whether they can make money there. Hong Kong's
economy has just entered a recovery track, which does not come
easily, Tang pointed out.
He said he believes the most important thing for Hong Kong is to
seek opportunities and make concerted efforts to face new
challenges.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa stated that
interpretation of the Basic Law is a legitimate function of the
NPC. Tung, speaking at a Friday evening press conference, added
that the HKSAR government was duly notified by the central
government that China's top legislature will deliberate on a draft
interpretation of Clause 7 of Annex I and Clause 3 of Annex II of
the Basic Law in its next meeting, from April 2 to April 6.
He said that the NPC Standing Committee chairman and
vice-chairmen decided at a meeting on Friday to collect the views
of the Basic Law Committee of the Hong Kong SAR under the NPC
Standing Committee on the draft interpretation.
Tung said the central government has stated that the
constitutional development of Hong Kong involves the full
implementation of the Basic Law and "one country, two systems." It
also concerns interests of various strata and sector of the
community of Hong Kong, as well as the long-term prosperity and
stability of Hong Kong.
The top legislature's discussion of the constitutional
development indicates that the central government considers the
issue very important, he added.
Tung said that constitutional development is a complicated and
serious issue, concerning the basic interests of the whole nation
and Hong Kong as well.
He said that in the past two months, the Constitutional
Development Task Force has promoted extensive discussions on the
issue in the community. Public opinion on legislative process
issues does range broadly.
He said the task force will meet members of the NPC Standing
Committee to reflect the views of the public on legislative process
issues collected in the past two months, as well as the position of
the HKSAR government on these issues.
Various Hong Kong media said on Saturday that the NPC's plan to
interpret the Basic Law provisions is timely and significant to
fostering consensus over constitutional development.
Newspaper Takunpao said in a commentary that the
central authorities have recently done much work on Hong Kong's
constitutional development. While this has markedly raised Hong
Kong people's understanding of the Basic Law, it not dispelled all
dispute.
Wenweipo, another newspaper, said great deeds since the
handover have proved that the central government is determined to
carry out the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic
Law.
(China Daily March 29, 2004)