The Article 160 of the Basic Law of HKSAR of PRC provides: “Upon the establishment of HKSAR, the laws previously in force in Hong Kong shall be adopted as laws of the Region except for those which the SCNPC declares to be in contravention of this law. If any laws are later discovered to be in contravention of this law, they shall be amended or cease to have force in accordance with the procedure as prescribed by this law.” Article 8 of the Basic law provides: “The laws previously in force in Hong Kong, that is, the common law, rules of equity, ordinances, subordinate legislation and customary law shall be maintained, except for any that contravene this law, and subject to any amendment by the legislature of HKSAR.” Based on the above provisions, the 24th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 8th National People’s Congress examined the proposals 1. The existing laws of Hong Kong, including the common law, rules of equity, ordinances, subordinate legislation and customary law 2. The existing ordinances and subordinate legislation listed in Appendix 1 shall not be adopted as the laws of HKSAR as contravene 3. Part of articles of the existing ordinances and subordinate legislation listed in Appendix 2 shall not be adopted as the laws 4. Necessary alterations, adaptations, restrictions or making exceptions shall be made to the existing laws that have been adopted Apart from the above principles, the following amendment shall be made with the existing ordinances or subordinate legislation: (1) If the laws concerning foreign affairs related to HKSAR are not consistent with the national laws implemented by HKSAR, the national (2) Any provisions granting privileges to Britain or other Commonwealth countries will not be retained, except where they are stipulated (3) Provisions on the rights, immunities and duties of the British troops stationed in Hong Kong will apply to the Chinese People’s (4) Where English is accorded higher legal status than Chinese, both shall be treated as official languages. (5) Stipulations under the British Laws referred to in existing provisions can be adopted as an interim arrangement before HKSAR has 5. Under the conditions provided for in 4, the interpretation or application of the terms and expressions of the existing laws adopted 6. The existing laws adopted as the laws of HKSAR are subject to amendment or repeal according to the provisions of the Basic Law Appendix 1 The following ordinances and subordinate legislation in the existing laws of Hong Kong shall not be adopted as the laws 1. The Trustees (Hong Kong Government Securities) Ordinance (Chapter 77); 2. The Application of English Law Ordinance (Chapter 88); 3. The Foreign Marriage Ordinance (Chapter 180); 4. The Chinese Extradition Ordinance (Chapter 235); 5. The Colony Armorial Bearing (Protection) Ordinance (Chapter 315); 6. The Secretary of State for Defense (Succession to Property) Ordinance (Chapter 193); 7. The Royal Hong Kong Regiment Ordinance (Chapter 199); 8. The Compulsory Service Ordinance (Chapter 246); 9. The Army and Royal Air Force Legal Services Ordinance (Chapter 286); 10. The British Nationality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Chapter 186); 11. The British Nationality Act 1981 (Consequential Amendments) Ordinance (Chapter 373); 12. The Electoral Provisions Ordinance (Chapter 367); 13. The Legislative Council (Electoral Provisions) Ordinance (Chapter 381); and 14. The Boundary and Election Commission Ordinance (Chapter 432). Appendix 2 Part of the articles in the following ordinances and subordinate legislation of the existing laws of Hong Kong shall not be adopted 1. The definition of Hong Kong permanent residents in Article two of the Immigration Ordinance (Chapter 115) and stipulations on Hong 2. All the provisions made to implement the British Nationlity Ordinance in Hong Kong; 3. The provisions on elections contained in the Urban Council Ordinance (Chapter 101); 4. The provisions on elections contained in the Regional Council Ordinance (Chapter 385); 5. The provisions on elections contained in the District Board Ordinance (Chapter 366); 6. Auxiliary Sections A and C of the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Ordinance (Chapter 288); 7. The provisions on the explanation and purpose of implementation of the Bill of Rights Ordinance (Chapter 383) in part three of 8. The provisions in the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Chapter 486) which override other laws in part two of article three; 9. The major revisions made to the Societies Ordinance (Chapter 151) since July 17, 1992; and 10. The major changes to the Public Order Ordinance (Chapter 245) since July 27, 1995. Appendix 3 The interpretation or application of the terms or expressions of the existing laws of Hong Kong adopted as the laws of HKSAR shall, 1. Any article containing such terms of phrases as “Her Majesty the Queen”, “Royal Court”, “British Government” and “Secretary of 2. Any article that contains the terms as “The Queen, together with the Council” or “the Council” and, if the article concerns matters 3. The names of government organs or semi-official organs crowned with “Royal”, the word “Royal” shall be deleted and shall be interpreted 4. The term “this colony” shall be interpreted as HKSAR. Any statement about the territory of Hong Kong should be interpreted according 5. Any “Supreme Court” and “High Court” and similar names and phrases shall be correspondingly interpreted as the high court and 6. Such post_titles or phrases as “Governor”, “Governor and Administrative Council”, “Department of Civil Affairs”, “Department of Justice”, 7. The post_titles or phrases of the legislative council, judicial organs or administrative organs and their personnel in the Chinese version 8. Any post_title or phrase containing “People’s Republic of China” and “China” shall be interpreted as the People’s Republic of China 9. Any article mentioning “foreign countries” or similar post_titles and phrases shall be interpreted as any other country or region other 10. Any provision that mentions that “the articles of this ordinance shall not affect or be regarded as affecting the rights of her
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MOFTEC P.R.C. |
EDITOR:Victor |