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SCMP Reporter

Local delegates to a mainland consultative body are divided on whether to discuss the controversial abode ruling.

 Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Standing Committee member Xu Simin said he would suggest the committee's Hong Kong delegates discuss the issue when they meet in Beijing next month.

 Any conclusion would be passed on to the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which also meets early next month, he said.

 Mr Xu said the ruling should be discussed because of its profound impact. The mainland's sovereignty should be considered as well as the court's authority.

 'Hong Kong people's children on the mainland are mainland residents. They should first abide by the country's law,' he said.

 However, fellow CPPCC member Ho Sai-chu disagreed. 'Handling the issue in a high-profile manner would have an adverse impact on the rule of law in Hong Kong,' he said.

 'People may wonder whether the ruling of the Court of Final Appeal should be easily changed.'  He suggested the best way to deal with it would be to amend the Basic Law.

 Democratic Party legislator Lee Wing-tat said neither the NPC nor the CPPCC should be discussing the issue at this stage.

 'The SAR Government is handling the matter as it is within its autonomy. It would form a precedent for the NPC to interfere with SAR matters if it is to discuss it,' he said.

 Mr Lee said the central Government had issued guidelines saying NPC deputies should not interfere in SAR affairs.

  'The NPC therefore does not have a role to discuss the abode ruling,' he said.



Local CPPCC delegates disagree on whether to discuss abode ruling at Beijing