Xu Chongde, last of the four 'Basic Law guardians', dies aged 85

Xu Chongde, the last of the four mainland academics dubbed the "guardians of the Basic Law", has died aged 85.

Xu, a law professor at Renmin University in Beijing, died in the nation's capital on Monday. His funeral will be held at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery on Friday.

In a statement, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying expressed sadness and described Xu as a "renowned scholar in our country's constitutional studies".

Xu, who once said some Hong Kong people lacked a "correct understanding" of the mini-constitution and who criticised pan-democrats for stirring up trouble, served as a member of the Basic Law Drafting Committee between 1985 and 1990. He was also a member of the preparatory committee that oversaw Hong Kong's handover and the establishment of the special administrative region. And he was a drafter of the Macau Basic Law.

He disappeared from the media spotlight after the handover but gained attention again when debate on Hong Kong's political reform was renewed in 2003.

"I have greatly benefited from working with Professor Xu for many years on the drafting of the Basic Law and in the preparatory committee," Leung said.

"Professor Xu was actively involved in the preparatory work for Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the establishment of the HKSAR. He has made outstanding contributions to both the country and Hong Kong."