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The West Kowloon terminus is under construction. Photo: Dickson Lee

Border controls for Hong Kong-China rail link will follow Basic Law, justice minister says

Hong Kong’s justice minister sidestepped questions about whether mainland Chinese immigration officers would work in the city’s high-speed rail terminal when it opens in 2017.

Hong Kong’s justice minister on Friday sidestepped questions about whether mainland Chinese immigration officers would work in the city’s high-speed rail terminal when it opens in 2017.

Asked if additional clauses would be inserted into the Basic Law to allow mainland immigration officers to work in the future West Kowloon terminus for express trains to Guangzhou, Department of Justice Secretary Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung only stressed that the final system would be constitutionally viable.

“We [Hong Kong and mainland officials] would not consider a proposal if it is in danger of violating the Basic Law,” he said. “We have a clear aim, which is to work out the matter in a manner consistent with the framework of the Basic Law and Hong Kong laws.”

Speaking after a speech recognising Hong Kong’s rule of law, Yuen did not directly answer whether this value would be jeopardised in the event the National People’s Congress adds provisions into the Basic Law to make way for “co-location” of the clearance facilities.

The ability for the West Kowloon terminus to host both local and mainland immigration officers is regarded as the only way to ensure the railway will be as express as designed.

Yuen, who with Secretary for Transport and Housing Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung met central officials in Shenzhen over the co-location issue, said not only the general direction but also the details of the proposals were being “repeatedly tested”.

“The very reason is that we do not want to see any scenario where the Basic Law would be violated whether in devising or implementing the system,” Yuen said.

Meanwhile, Yuen also said the Department of Justice had been engaging “outside independent” senior counsel in deciding whether to prosecute the seven policemen caught on camera in October last year allegedly beating Occupy activist Ken Tsang Kin-chiu.

“We fully appreciate the sensitivity of the case,” he said, adding the outside legal opinion would ensure the ultimate advice and recommendation “is independent and will be well-received by the community”.

Seven months have passed since the alleged offence took place at the height of the civil disobedience movement.

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