The Liaison Office of the Chinese Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said Tuesday that the administrative, legislative and judicial bodies of the HKSAR should respect relevant decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) when performing their duties and exercising relevant powers in accordance with the law.
The principal official of the liaison office said they have noted that the Court of First Instance of the High Court of the HKSAR ruled on Monday that some provisions of the Emergency Regulations Ordinance were inconsistent with the Basic Law of the HKSAR. The Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee and spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council have expressed deep and strong concerns over the ruling.
According to the Article 67(4) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China on the NPC Standing Committee's power to interpret laws and the Article 158(1) of the Basic Law of the HKSAR that states "the power of interpretation of this Law shall be vested in the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress," the NPC Standing Committee reserves the right of final judgement as to whether Hong Kong's local laws contravene the Basic Law, the principal official said.
According to the principal official, Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal has also made it clear in a judgement that the NPC Standing Committee has the power to make the interpretation of the HKSAR Basic Law. This power originates from the Chinese Constitution and is contained in the HKSAR Basic Law itself, and is in general and unqualified terms.
As per the decision on handling the laws previously in force in Hong Kong in accordance with Article 160 of the Basic Law of HKSAR, which was made by the NPC Standing Committee on Feb. 23, 1997, the Emergency Regulations Ordinance was adopted as a law of the HKSAR, the principal official said.
The principal official said they are confident that facing the most important and pressing task for Hong Kong at present of bringing violence and chaos to an end and restoring order, all walks of life in Hong Kong will firmly support the chief executive and the HKSAR government in governing in accordance with the law and taking active measures, firmly support the Hong Kong police in strictly enforcing the law, and firmly support the Hong Kong judicial bodies in punishing the violent criminals in accordance with the law.
