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Hong Kong Basic Law
Opinion

Beijing’s rightful role in Hong Kong affairs should not be seen as interference

Song Xiaozhuang says it is wrong to accuse the central government of undermining Hong Kong autonomy every time it performs its duties as laid out in the Basic Law

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A couple walk past an image of the Chinese flag being projected on a building in Tsim Sha Tsui, ahead of the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule. China is a unitary nation, and the central government is responsible for the governance of its regions, for better and for worse. Photo: EPA
Song Xiaozhuang

Even as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region gets ready to celebrate the 20th year of its establishment, many questions are still being asked about the role of the central authorities in Hong Kong and their relationship with the territory. Some answers are in order.

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First, in accordance with the both the Chinese constitution and the Basic Law, the central authorities with responsibility for Hong Kong may refer to: the National People’s Congress that enacts the constitution and the Basic Law; the Standing Committee of the NPC that has been vested with the power to interpret the constitution and the Basic Law; the central government, to which the SAR reports; the president, who heads the nation; and the Central Military Commission commanding the PLA garrison stationed here for national and regional security.

The SAR authorities refers to the chief executive and his executive government, the legislature and the judiciary.

Next, all provisions of the Basic Law can be classified into three categories: those that spell out the responsibilities of the central authorities; those relating to the relationship between the central authorities and the SAR; and those that limit the autonomy of the SAR (articles 17, 18 and 158).

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