HONG KONG: THE FACTS
Coming to Hong Kong
Hong Kong, with a population of about 7.24 million in mid-2014, is a small but dynamic city which has earned an international reputation as a leading commercial and financial centre as well as a highly efficient entrepot.
Almost from the outset 150 years ago, Hong Kong enjoyed a prosperous entrepot trade, thanks mainly to its world-class harbour strategically located on the main Far Eastern trade routes. Subsequent historical and political events led to the development of the manufacturing industry. Hong Kong has also seen a rapid expansion of its services sector in the past two decades, contributing up to 93 per cent of Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in recent years.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) was established on July 1, 1997. Under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems", Hong Kong's previous capitalist system and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50 years. The HKSAR shall be administered by Hong Kong people and shall exercise a high degree of autonomy.
The Basic Law: The Basic Law, enacted in accordance with the Constitution of the PRC, is a constitutional document for the HKSAR. It enshrines within a legal document the basic policies of the PRC regarding Hong Kong and prescribes the systems to be practised in the HKSAR. It prescribes the relationship between the Central Authorities and the HKSAR; the fundamental rights and duties of Hong Kong residents; the political structure of the HKSAR; the economic and social systems of the HKSAR; the conduct of external affairs by the HKSAR, as well as the interpretation and amendment of the Basic Law.
The Government: The Chief Executive (CE) is the head of the HKSAR. According to the Basic Law, the CE shall be selected by election or through consultations held in Hong Kong, and be appointed by the Central People's Government. At present, the Election Committee which is responsible for selecting the CE is composed of 1 200 members. Most members of the Election Committee are returned by election.
The Executive Council assists the CE in policy making. The CE shall consult the Executive Council before making important policy decisions, introducing bills to the Legislative Council (LegCo), making subordinate legislation, or dissolving the LegCo.
The LegCo shall exercise the powers and functions, which include to enact, amend or repeal laws in accordance with the Basic Law and legal procedures; examine and approve budgets introduced by the government; approve taxation and public expenditure; and raise questions on the work of the government. At present, Legislative Council has 70 members: 35 from geographical constituencies, 35 returned by functional constituencies. At the district level, 18 District Councils offer advice on matters affecting the well-being of the people in the districts, and provide a platform for public consultation.
Constitutional Development: The Basic Law prescribes the methods for electing the CE and for forming the LegCo. The Basic Law further prescribes the ultimate aim of selecting the CE by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures, and of electing all the members of the LegCo by universal suffrage in the light of the actual situation in the HKSAR and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress.
According to the Basic Law and the relevant Interpretation of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC), any amendments to the method for selecting the CE and the formation of the LegCo must go through the "Five-step" constitutional process, i.e., the making of a report by the CE to the NPCSC, the determination by the NPCSC whether to make amendments to the method of selection/formation; the endorsement of a two-thirds majority of all the Members of the LegCo, the consent of the CE, and report to the NPCSC for approval or for the record.
To attain the ultimate aim of selecting the CE by universal suffrage provided for in the Basic Law, after conducting two rounds of extensive and systematic public consultations which lasted for a total of seven months, the HKSAR Government put forward a package of proposals for the method for selecting the CE by universal suffrage. The proposals are constitutionally in order, lawful, reasonable and rational. On 18 June 2015, the motion moved by the HKSAR Government to amend the method for the selection of the CE was vetoed by the LegCo. The method for selecting the fourth-term CE in 2012 will continue to be adopted to select the fifth-term CE in 2017, i.e., the CE is to be elected by a 1 200-member Election Committee.
Laws and Justice: Laws in Hong Kong consist of the Basic Law, locally enacted ordinances, subsidiary legislation, the common law, rules of equity and customary law. A few national laws of the PRC listed in Annex III to the Basic Law are also applicable (covering subjects such as national flag and anthem, nationality law and diplomatic privileges and immunities).
The courts of justice in the HKSAR comprise the Court of Final Appeal, the High Court (which includes the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance), the District Court (which includes the Family Court), the Lands Tribunal, the Magistrates' Courts (which include the Juvenile Courts), the Labour Tribunal, the Small Claims Tribunal, the Obscene Articles Tribunal and the Coroner's Court.
Public Finance: As at end-March 2015, the Government's fiscal reserves stood at $828.5 billion. Estimated government revenue for 2015-16 amounts to
