|
Article: HK Basic Law should be followed
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-04-03 21:48 Xinhua News Agency is releasing a signed article
by Tang Hua, deputy editor-in-chief of its own magazine Outlook Weekly, titled
"Constitutional developments in Hong Kong should be safeguarded to follow the
direction laid down by the Basic Law." The contents of the commentary are as
follows:
The Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) is
reviewing draft interpretations on provisions in the Basic Law annexes. The NPC
Standing Committee, with a high sense of responsibility, is exercising its
solemn duty entrusted by the Constitution and the Basic Law in response to the
objective requirements of comprehensive implementation of the Basic Law. Its
purpose is to safeguard the supreme authority of the Basic Law in the course of
the country's creative practices of enacting the principle of "one country, two
systems," and to make sure that Hong Kong's constitutional developments follow
the direction as defined in the Basic Law.
The NPC has decided on the political structure of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR) in the Basic Law based on the principle of "one
country, two systems" and the central government's policies towards Hong Kong.
This constitutional structure is in line with the legal status of the HKSAR,
reflects the actual conditions of Hong Kong society, represents interests of all
social strata there, conduces to the development of the capitalist economy and
lays out the political foundations of long-term stability and prosperity for the
region.
The executive power plays a dominant role in Hong Kong's political structure
with its Chief Executive placed at an extremely vital position; The Legislative
Council (LegCo) as its legislature also play a very important role in the
political setup.Therefore, how to choose the Chief Executive and LegCo members,
whether methods on the election of the Chief Executive and formation of the
LegCo need to be revised and how to revise, are all major issues of Hong Kong's
constitutional developments and affects the stability of the political
foundations of Hong Kong society. These issues must be solved in strict
compliance with theprinciples as defined by the Basic Law of proceeding from the
actual conditions of Hong Kong in a step-by-step manner and ensuring balanced
representation of people from all walks of life.Those principles must be
observed with no deviations.
At present, different understandings of the Basic Law's certainprovisions
exist in Hong Kong concerning its constitutional developments, and fierce rows
have also ensued. If such misunderstandings were not clarified by law, the right
not told from the wrong, interference not removed, the principle of "one
country, two systems" would not be implemented in an all-round way, and the
democratic system development concerned by the Hong Kong public will not be
carried out in the direction set forth by the Basic Law. Thus the conscientious
and earnest interpretations that the NPC Standing Committee is making, based on
the purview entrusted by the Constitution, the Basic Law and due legal
procedures, are entirely essential and timely.
The move to interpret the Basic Law annex provisions this time epitomizes
that the Central Government is taking the highest responsibility for Hong Kong's
political stability, economic prosperity and social harmony, demonstrates the
Central Government's resolve of unswerving adherence to the Basic Law, as well
as its authority over its understanding and enforcement of the Basic Law. The
interpretation move has won endorsement from the overall public of Hong Kong.
This move also indicates that any issue or dispute pertaining to Hong Kong
constitutional development must be resolved within the framework as defined by
the Basic Law, and the NPC Standing Committee is responsible to correct, in
accordance with the Basic Law itself, any stance or action that is inconsistent
with the Basic Law.
It is believed that the majority of sober-minded Hong Kong residents can
realize both the starting point and final goal of interpretations the NPC
Standing Committee is to make are precisely for the better implementation of the
"one country, two systems" policy and the Basic Law itself and for the long-term
prosperity and stability of the region.
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top China
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
