Liaison briefs on law interpretation

Beijing's top liaison in Hong Kong briefed local members of the state legislature and top political advisers on Sunday about deliberations over a potential interpretation of an article in the city's Basic Law.

The move concerns Article 104, which relates to swearing-in procedures for public officials in the special administrative region, and is expected to prevent separatists from paralyzing the Legislative Council.

A vote on the draft interpretation is likely to come on Monday before a session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee closes in Beijing.

Zhang Xiaoming, director of the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong, said on Sunday that pro-independence advocacy in the LegCo goes against the "one country, two systems" policy, according to Chan Wing-kee, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who was at the briefing.

Article 158 states that, when necessary, "the power of interpretation of Basic Law should be vested in the NPC Standing Committee" to clarify the exact and original meaning of a term or article. Zhang said the interpretation will provide a guideline for future oath-taking ceremonies and for courts, according to Chan.

The move comes after two lawmakers-elect - Sixtus Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching - altered their LegCo oath and used foul language to insult China during their swearing-in on Oct 12. A judicial review sought by the SAR government that demands they vacate their seats is ongoing.

Chan Yung, an NPC deputy and vice-chairman of Hong Kong's largest political party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said the interpretation will help to prevent separatists from affecting Hong Kong's governance.

In the 19 years since Hong Kong's reunification with the mainland, the NPC Standing Committee has made interpretations on Basic Law four times.

uisliu@chinadailyhk.com

(China Daily 11/07/2016 page3)