Power to pardon changing

The Government plans to transfer the power to pardon convicted criminals to the chief executive under the Adaptation of Laws Bill.

It wants to amend 'her majesty's pardon' to 'the chief executive's pardon' under the Organised and Serious Crime Ordinance.

During the colonial era, the queen was empowered to pardon criminals in Hong Kong.

In a written reply to points raised by independent legislator and barrister Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee on the Adaptation of Laws Bill, the Security Bureau said the authority for the proposed adaptation lay in the Basic Law.

It said the chief executive was empowered under an article of the mini-constitution to pardon criminals.

The power to pardon would be considered on a case by case basis.