A new Hong Kong member of the Basic Law Committee says the city should not resort to interpretations of the mini-constitution to solve problems.
Lau Nai-keung, whose appointment to the legal body was approved yesterday by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said in Beijing: 'Please don't ask for an interpretation of the law on a whim. It's not a panacea ... The mainland doesn't really want to interpret the Basic Law [too often].'
Citing the recent appeal for an interpretation to address the problem of mainlanders giving birth in Hong Kong, Mr Lau said Hong Kong was capable of handling the issue without Beijing's intervention.
'This is not a very big problem. Hong Kong should be able to handle it, so it's not appropriate to seek an interpretation regarding this issue,' he said.
Mr Lau said he was honoured to be named to the 12-member Basic Law Committee. He fills a vacancy created by the death of Raymond Wu Wai-yung in October.
Mr Lau is a former member of the Basic Law Consultative Committee and has served as a Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference delegate since 1998.
