Controversial joint checkpoint plan approved for high-speed rail link as Hong Kong officials dismiss concerns over legality
Decision by China’s top legislative body will see mainland laws enforced in designated zone, amid fears that city’s autonomy will be undermined
Beijing on Wednesday formally approved a controversial plan for mainland officials to enforce national laws in part of a station on the Hong Kong side for a cross-border rail link under construction, presenting a done deal to the city amid an ongoing row over its legality.
Officials dismissed concerns about Hong Kong’s autonomy being undermined by the move, stressing that only a designated zone leased to mainland authorities would be subject to national laws, after the proposal to implement the so-called co-location arrangement was tabled by China’s cabinet, the State Council, and passed by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC).
Six things to know about Hong Kong’s controversial ‘co-location’ joint checkpoint scheme
“The co-location arrangement, which complies with the constitution and the Basic Law, carries constitutional authority … it is an important constitutional judgment which cannot be challenged,” Li Fei, a top Beijing expert on the city’s mini-constitution, said, stressing the finality of the decision and the central government’s authority to have the last word on its legality.
The Hong Kong government’s plan now is to table relevant local legislation by February for approval by the Legislative Council, with the long-delayed and over-budget Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link scheduled to start running from the third quarter of next year.
The resolution passed by the NPCSC explained that the plan to allow police and customs officials from across the border to handle immigration procedures for travellers in both directions was in line with Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
You can choose not to take the high-speed rail [and] the co-location arrangement would not apply to you. But you need to know which [mode of transport] is more convenient...
Li, head of the NPCSC’s Basic Law Committee, held a press conference on Wednesday to explain the legal justification for the arrangement, stating that it “reflects the high degree of autonomy Hong Kong has, and not that Hong Kong has given up its high degree of autonomy like some people have said”.