The legality of the provisional legislature remains an area of dispute among pro-China factions as Chief Executive-designate Tung Chee-hwa heads for Beijing today to seek ways to further affirm the body's legal status.
While Mr Tung's purpose is to seek the views of the National People's Congress (NPC) on the consolidation of the legislature's legality, some disagree with the need to do so.
Congress deputy Elsie Leung Oi-sie has proposed a supplementary legislative interpretation be made to ratify the Preparatory Committee's power to form the provisional legislature.
Ms Leung's proposal was made out of concerns that laws made by the interim legislature might be challenged locally.
According to her, Article 67 (4) of the Chinese Constitution stipulates that the NPC Standing Committee has the right to interpret laws. In Hong Kong, however, it is up to the courts to do so.
She insists that the Preparatory Committee has the power to form the legislature under the NPC decision on April 4, 1990, but said an interpretation would clear the doubts.
