China’s top legislative body set to endorse anti-sanctions law for Hong Kong next month by inserting the provisions into city’s mini-constitution
- State media says National People’s Congress Standing Committee is meeting in August to discuss adding more national legislation to Hong Kong’s mini-constitution
- Source says that includes the anti-sanctions law, which is Beijing’s response to the West’s sanctions over national security legislation imposed on Hong Kong
Such a move would ensure that Hong Kong officials could coordinate with the rest of the nation in retaliating against punitive actions the West imposed on authorities, one analyst argued.
State media reported on Tuesday that the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee would convene a session from August 17 to 20 in Beijing on bringing more national legislation within the scope of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
“Lawmakers will deliberate a draft decision to include more national laws in the list of laws in Annex III to the Basic Law of [Hong Kong] and [that of Macau],” Xinhua reported, without giving further details.
A source told the Post that the state-run news agency was referring specifically to incorporating the country’s new anti-sanctions law into Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
Article 18 of the Basic Law states that national laws shall not apply in Hong Kong except for those listed in Annex III. The anti-sanctions law took effect immediately when it was adopted by the NPC Standing Committee in June.