Hong Kong Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung said Sunday (Mar. 20) that appointment of the Chief Executive is clearly the responsibility of the Central People's Government.

Speaking on Radio, Television Hong Kong's Letter to Hong Kong program, Leung said the Basic Law confers a high degree of autonomy on the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), but it does not confer absolute autonomy.

She said the Basic Law also contains provisions concerning affairs which are the responsibility of the Central People's Government, and concerning the relationship between the Central Authorities and the HKSAR.

She said article 158 (1) of the Basic Law expressly provides that the power of interpretation of the Basic Law shall be vested in the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The question of the new chief executive's term must be determined according to the true meaning of the Basic Law, in accordance with the rule of law, she added.

She believed that the rule of law is as strong as ever. The current dispute over the terms of new chief executive will be resolved in accordance with the law. 

Editor: Olivia