Beijing’s review of Hong Kong Basic Law necessary to restore order, mainland adviser says
Peking University expert also agrees with timing of intervention, while People’s Daily hails ruling and chief executive says no plans yet for by-election
Jiang Shigong, deputy director of Peking University’s Centre for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said it should be noted that this interpretation by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, which pre-empted a judicial review ruling by the Hong Kong court, was not a show of disrespect or lack of trust.
“The timing of this interpretation is based on the principle of necessity in the common law, which the Hong Kong legal sector should be familiar with,” Jiang said. He was a researcher in the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong from 2004 to 2008.
Jiang was referring to the common law system that Hong Kong retained even after the 1997 handover.
The timing of the interpretation was also because operations in the Legislative Council had come to a standstill over the oath row, Jiang said.