Beijing Calling For Prosecutions 'just Some Advice'

Executive councillor and barrister Ronny Tong said on Monday that when Beijing officials said that the SAR government ought to deal with lawmakers suspected of committing a criminal offence, they were only offering some advice.

"It's no different from advice being offered by [Chris] Patten or by [Donald] Trump. I think in the modern world, that doesn't constitute actual interference in the meaning of [Basic Law] Article 22," he said.

"They are not trying to change what the SAR government wants to do, change its policy or make decisions."

Tong was referring to the ongoing controversy over the liaison office and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office accusing pan-dems of misconduct by filibustering House Committee meetings and failing to elect a chairperson.

He said while Article 22 states that departments of the central government must not interfere in SAR affairs, the purpose of this article is not to limit Beijing's power to exercise its sovereign rights over Hong Kong.

"Where there are departments who seek to speak on behalf of the central government, I don't believe that that action, or that speech, is limited or restricted by Article 22."

Tong also told RTHK's Janice Wong that it was "regrettable" that the SAR government had issued confusing statements on the controversy over the weekend, saying "they have probably confused the functions of the liaison office".

A series of contradictory statements in a short period of time on Saturday night first suggested the liaison office did have to abide by Article 22, before the government eventually decided that this part of the Basic Law is not something that Beijing officials in Hong Kong have to comply with.

The liaison office had said itself on Friday evening that it is not subject to Article 22.