For teaching and research purposes and to promote the Basic Law, the Implementation of the Hong Kong Basic Law Research Project of City University of Hong Kong has decided to publish a pocket-sized edition of the Basic Law, which includes the Basic Law full text (a total of 9 chapters consisting of 160 articles, plus 3 annexes) and all directly related constitutional instruments, including the decisions and legal interpretations of the Basic Law by the National People’s Congress and its standing committee. It is hoped that this lightweight edition can provide an easy and convenient reference for legal professionals, civil servants and the public alike.
The pocket-sized edition of the Basic Law has the following features:
Bilingual Reference
As the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region employs a bilingual legal system where all legislation, including the Basic Law, are enacted in both Chinese and English, this pocket-sized edition provides a parallel, bilingual display which allows readers easy cross-referencing without having to turn pages.
Classification by Category
In previous editions of the Basic Law and constitution-related documents, most instruments have been arranged solely in chronological order. In addition to the full text of the Basic Law, this new edition includes 20 important constitutional decisions and legal interpretations of the Basic Law, which are first divided into 3 categories: Decisions (11 instruments), Decisions regarding Annex III (3 instruments) and Legal Interpretations (6 instruments). Each category is further arranged chronologically, allowing readers to easily search for specific content.
Clear Cross References
In this edition, whenever an article refers to other articles, page numbers to the relevant articles are provided, allowing readers easy access to further information. In addition, editorial notes are clearly indicated by symbols such as “*”, and footnotes can be found at the bottom of the pages.
Easy to Carry
This lightweight and handy edition is especially suitable for tertiary education scholars and students, legal professionals and civil servants for quick and easy referencing.
The Implementation
of the Hong Kong Basic Law Research Project
City University of Hong Kong
March 2017
目錄
第一章 總則
第二章 中央和香港特別行政區的關係
第三章 居民的基本權利和義務
第四章 政治體制
第五章 經濟
第六章 教育、科學、文化、體育、宗教、勞工和社會服務
第七章 對外事務
第八章 本法的解釋和修改
第九章 附則
Chapter I General Principles
Chapter II Relationship between the Central Authorities and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Chapter III Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Residents
Chapter IV Political Structure
Chapter V Economy
Chapter VI Education, Science, Culture, Sports, Religion, Labour and Social Services
Chapter VII External Affairs
Chapter VIII Interpretation and Amendment of the Basic Law
Chapter IX Supplementary Provisions
Hong Kong has been part of the territory of China since ancient times; it was occupied by Britain after the Opium War in 1840. On 19 December 1984, the Chinese and British Governments signed the Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong, affirming that the Government of the People’s Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong with effect from 1 July 1997, thus fulfilling the long-cherished common aspiration of the Chinese people for the recovery of Hong Kong.
Upholding national unity and territorial integrity, maintaining the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and taking account of its history and realities, the People’s Republic of China has decided that upon China’s resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be established in accordance with the provisions of Article 31 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, and that under the principle of “one country, two systems”, the socialist system and policies will not be practised in Hong Kong. The basic policies of the People’s Republic of China regarding Hong Kong have been elaborated by the Chinese Government in the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
In accordance with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, the National People’s Congress hereby enacts the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, prescribing the systems to be practised in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in order to ensure the implementation of the basic policies of the People’s Republic of China regarding Hong Kong.