'Some Western Politicians Distorting HK's Autonomy'

Former Chief Executive CY Leung said on Saturday that some Western politicians have distorted the high degree of autonomy guaranteed in Hong Kong under the Basic Law as full autonomy.

Speaking during a web seminar held to mark the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the Basic Law, Leung said it was necessary to make Hong Kong society understand the Basic Law through targeted debates.

He said the international community should also be made to understand the arrangements that are already in place under the "One Country, Two System" principle.

He said that the methods for selecting the Chief Executive of Hong Kong must be approved by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

But some opposition parties in the SAR are trying to move the goalposts, said Leung, who is a vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

The former CE said the opposition have attempted to encroach on the power granted to the central government under the Basic Law, so there’s a need to keep explaining the city’s mini-constitution to the international and Hong Kong community.

Speaking at the same seminar, deputy director of the Basic Law Committee Maria Tam, said the "One Country, Two Systems" principle had been seriously challenged by behaviour of some foreign organisations and people who publicly support the independence of Hong Kong in the SAR.

Tam said democratic development in Hong Kong had improved since the handover in 1997, but raised concerns over the appearance of some parties that support Hong Kong independence in recent years.

______________________________