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In response to press enquiries, a government spokesman points out that there is a material error in Legislative Councillor Dr Kwok Ka-ki's "Letter to Hong Kong" broadcast by Radio Television Hong Kong this morning (September 21).
Dr Kwok said that amendments to Annex I to the Basic Law, which provides for the method for selecting the Chief Executive, have to be endorsed by a two-thirds majority of the Legislative Council (LegCo) and after that, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government only needs to report the amendments to the National People's Congress (NPC), and "the role of the Central Government - through the mechanism of (the) NPC - is to receive the report".
"This is a serious mis-representation," the government spokesman said. "In accordance with the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, the power to determine the political structure of the HKSAR rests with the NPC. In promulgating the Basic Law, the NPC has laid down the political structure of the HKSAR, including the method for selecting the Chief Executive as contained in Article 45 and Annex I. In Annex I, it is clearly stated that amendments to the Annex must be endorsed by a two-thirds majority of all Members of the LegCo and the consent of the Chief Executive, and shall be reported to the Standing Committee of the NPC for approval," the spokesman added.
"As such, it is clear that LegCo Members have a special constitutional role and responsibility in the process of amending the method to select the Chief Executive; and that the Chief Executive and the Standing Committee of the NPC have their respective roles as well in deciding whether to approve the proposed amendments.
"It is regrettable that Dr Kwok is confused and unfamiliar with these important concepts," the spokesman said.
Ends/Sunday, September 21, 2014
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