Beijing’s “distortion” of the Basic Law in justifying the Express Rail Link’s joint checkpoint arrangement has greatly undermined Hong Kong’s rule of law, legal experts have warned.
On Wednesday, China’s top legislature – the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) – approved the plan following a unanimous vote and months of controversy. Hong Kong will effectively surrender its jurisdiction across a quarter of the new West Kowloon terminus, where immigration procedures will be performed by mainland law enforcement agents.
‘Lacks legal foundation’
Some of the city’s top lawyers – Philip Dykes, Lawrence Lok and Johannes Chan – said in a joint statement on Thursday that the decision failed to justify the controversial plan with a sound legal basis.
“The current co-location arrangement is in direct contravention of the Basic Law and if implemented would substantially damage the rule of law in Hong Kong,” they said.
Legal scholars have long warned that the arrangement potentially violates the city’s mini-constitution. Article 18 states that Chinese laws are not to be applied in Hong Kong aside for those listed in Annex III, such as the national flag and emblem law.
The NPCSC decision stated that the plan would not violate the Basic Law because it concerned only part of Hong Kong, while Article 18 refers to situations where the whole of Hong Kong is affected by Chinese law. Therefore, it said, Article 18 does not apply to the mainland port of the terminus, allowing China to have full jurisdiction over the area.
The barristers’ joint statement said Article 18 was clearly written and leaves no room for any interpretation which would allow Chinese law to apply in a certain part of the SAR.
The decision also cited a number of Basic Law articles to support the arrangement, such as socio-economic provisions and the provision that guarantees Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy.
But the barristers said the articles were taken out of context. They said these general provisions are insufficient to override “specific and clear provisions” such as Articles 19 and 22, which state that Hong Kong has independent judicial power and that mainland personnel in Hong Kong are subject to its law.
“The rule of law will be threatened and undermined if the clear meaning of the Basic Law can be twisted and the provisions of the Basic Law can be interpreted according to expediency and convenience,” they said.
Rule of law
On Wednesday, NPSCS Deputy Secretary General Li Fei said NPCSC decisions are final and “cannot be challenged.”
In response, the former Bar chair Paul Shieh said: “No provision in the Basic Law states that anything the NPCSC decides is law in Hong Kong – if that is the case, it will be very frightening. It will be One Country, One System.”
Describing China’s view on the rule of law as “premature,” Johannes Chan said on a Commercial Radio show on Thursday that Beijing believes it can interpret the law – including its own constitution – however it likes to suit its purposes.
“This is the characteristic of Chinese law, and is exactly what we worried the most about when the Basic Law was being drafted,” the law professor said.
“The One Country, Two Systems principle was created to maintain our confidence in Hong Kong’s legal system, and the Basic Law must be interpreted according to objective standards. But now Li said there is no need to follow any rules.”
Barrister Chris Ng of the Progressive Lawyers Group told HKFP that his group was “very angry” at Beijing’s handling of the matter and at the Hong Kong government for allowing it to happen.
“None of the arguments are sound. The language and the way [Beijing] dealt with the issue goes against the spirit of the rule of law,” he said. “This is rule by law, or rule by decree – their words are the law, and you must accept it without question.”
“This will not only damage the rule of law, but it will also have a profound impact on the Basic Law.”
He also criticised the government for working in a black box. “Li Fei said the plan is supported by Hong Kong people, but this is not true. there hasn’t been any widespread discussion and the plan cannot realistically be said to have wide public support.”
‘Don’t take the train then’
Critics have voiced concerns over the application of Chinese criminal law in the mainland port of the West Kowloon terminus, with some worried that the Chinese authorities may take dissidents away and try them on the mainland.
Barrister Erik Shum said the scenario is not impossible. He also criticised Li Fei for telling critics to not take the train as a solution.
“The issue concerns a significant question of law, and this kind of argument is not conducive to the debate,” he said. “The main issue is not whether the arrangement is a good thing. The key is the plan must comply with the Basic Law.”
Shenzhen Bay
The government has also compared the plan with the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, an immigration checkpoint between Hong Kong and China. Part of the control port was leased to Hong Kong, thereby allowing Hong Kong law to apply in areas belonging to China.
But Chris Ng said that the current plan is a “completely different story” and is incomparable to the Shenzhen Bay example.
Article 20 of the Basic Law allows the NPCSC to give Hong Kong additional powers, such as the power to exercise jurisdiction outside Hong Kong. Local courts have also affirmed this application of the law.
“However, the same cannot be said about China exercising jurisdiction in Hong Kong, which is not supported by any provisions in the Basic Law,” Ng said.
He said the only proper way of implementing the West Kowloon checkpoint mechanism is to amend the Basic Law in accordance with Article 159, a power that Beijing has never invoked in the history of Hong Kong SAR.
“I don’t know why Beijing doesn’t want to go through this route, but it must admit that the arrangement is incompatible with the Basic Law framework unless it is amended,” he said.
But the barrister, who represents his professional group in an alliance of around 100 civil society groups against the plan, said the fundamental issue is that Hong Kong people do not trust the Chinese legal system and its understanding of the rule of law.
“The One Country, Two Systems principle is why people are still living and doing business in Hong Kong. Without the rule of law, this policy will collapse,” he said.
