Hong Kong courts have no power to challenge decisions of China’s top legislative body, says Beijing loyalist Maria Tam
Comments from political heavyweights come amid furore over NPC Standing Committee’s approval of a joint checkpoint plan for cross-border express rail link
A “decision” adopted by China’s top legislative body was equivalent to a law that Hong Kong courts had no power to challenge, a pro-Beijing political heavyweight said on Saturday, amid a row over the legality of the body’s approval of a joint checkpoint plan for a cross-border rail link.
“Under the Chinese constitutional system, decisions made by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee [NPCSC] are equivalent to laws. They are also laws,” said Maria Tam Wai-chu, a member of the Basic Law Committee under the NPCSC.
“We [Hong Kong] should have no jurisdiction over the NPCSC’s decisions.”
Hong Kong’s legal community can challenge Beijing’s approval of joint checkpoint plan, ex-Bar Association head says
However, he also conceded that such a legal battle may end up with the NPCSC issuing another “shocking” interpretation of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.