Basic Law Drafting History Online

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 11
(Eng) Article 11

1987-ver2

(Eng) Article 11

1988-pre-public

(Chi) Article 11

1988-public

(Chi) Article 11
(Eng) Article 11

1989-public

(Chi) Article 12
(Eng) Article 12

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 12

Article 13
The Central People's Government shall be responsible for the foreign affairs relating to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China shall establish an office in Hong Kong to deal with foreign affairs.
The Central People's Government authorizes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to conduct relevant external affairs on its own in accordance with this Law.

第十三條
中央人民政府負責管理與香港特別行政區有關的外交事務。
中華人民共和國外交部在香港設立機構處理外交事務。
中央人民政府授權香港特別行政區依照本法自行處理有關的對外事務。

1986

(Chi) Article 2

(Chi) Comments
(Chi) Comments

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 13
(Eng) Article 13

1987-ver2

(Eng) Article 13

1988-pre-public

(Chi) Article 12

1988-public

(Chi) Article 12
(Eng) Article 12

1989-public

(Chi) Article 13
(Eng) Article 13

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 13

Article 14
The Central People's Government shall be responsible for the defence of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

第十四條
中央人民政府負責管理香港特別行政區的防務。

1986

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 14.1
(Eng) Article 14.1

1987-ver2

(Eng) Article 14.1

1988-pre-public

(Chi) Article 13.1

1988-public

(Chi) Article 13.1
(Eng) Article 13.1

1989-public

(Chi) Article 14.1
(Eng) Article 14.1

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 14.1

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be responsible for the maintenance of public order in the Region.

香港特別行政區政府負責維持香港特別行政區的社會治安。

1986

(Chi) Article 4

1987-ver1

1987-ver2

(Eng) Article 15

1988-pre-public

(Chi) Article 15

1988-public

1989-public

(Chi) Article 14.2
(Eng) Article 14.2

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 14.2

Military forces stationed by the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for defence shall not interfere in the local affairs of the Region. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may, when necessary, ask the Central People's Government for assistance from the garrison in the maintenance of public order and in disaster relief.

中央人民政府派駐香港特別行政區負責防務的軍隊不干預香港特別行政區的地方事務。香港特別行政區政府在必要時，可向中央人民政府請求駐軍協助維持社會治安和救助災害。

1986

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 14.2
(Eng) Article 14.2

1987-ver2

(Eng) Article 14.2

1988-pre-public

(Chi) Article 13.2

1988-public

(Chi) Article 13.2
(Eng) Article 13.2

1989-public

(Chi) Article 14.3
(Eng) Article 14.3

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 14.3

In addition to abiding by national laws, members of the garrison shall abide by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

駐軍人員除須遵守全國性的法律外，還須遵守香港特別行政區的法律。

1986

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 14.3
(Eng) Article 14.3

1987-ver2

1988-pre-public

1988-public

(Chi) Article 13.3
(Eng) Article 13.3

1989-public

(Chi) Article 14.4
(Eng) Article 14.4

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 14.4

Expenditure for the garrison shall be borne by the Central People Government.

駐軍費用由中央人民政府負擔。

1986

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 14.4
(Eng) Article 14.4

1987-ver2

(Eng) Article 14.4

1988-pre-public

(Chi) Article 13.4

1988-public

(Chi) Article 13.4
(Eng) Article 13.4

1989-public

(Chi) Article 14.5
(Eng) Article 14.5

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 14.5

Article 15
The Central People's Government shall appoint the Chief Executive and the principal officials of the executive authorities of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in accordance with the provisions of Chapter IV of this Law.

第十五條
中央人民政府依照本法第四章的規定任命香港特別行政區行政長官和行政機關的主要官員。

1986

(Chi) Comments
(Chi) Comments
(Chi) Comments

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 12
(Eng) Article 12

1987-ver2

(Eng) Article 12

1988-pre-public

(Chi) Article 14

1988-public

(Chi) Article 14
(Eng) Article 14

1989-public

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 15

Article 16
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be vested with executive power. It shall, on its own, conduct the administrative affairs of the Region in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Law.

第十六條
香港特別行政區享有行政管理權，依照本法的有關規定自行處理香港特別行政區的行政事務。

1986

(Chi) Article 4

1987-ver1

1987-ver2

(Eng) Article 15

1988-pre-public

(Chi) Article 15

1988-public

1989-public

(Chi) Article 16
(Eng) Article 16

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 16

Article 17
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be vested with legislative power.
Laws enacted by the legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region must be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record. The reporting for record shall not affect the entry into force of such laws.
If the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, after consulting the Committee for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under it, considers that any law enacted by the legislature of the Region is not in conformity with the provisions of this Law regarding affairs within the responsibility of the Central Authorities or regarding the relationship between the Central Authorities and the Region, the Standing Committee may return the law in question but shall not amend it. Any law returned by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress shall immediately be invalidated. This invalidation shall not have retroactive effect, unless otherwise provided for in the laws of the Region.

第十七條
香港特別行政區享有立法權。
香港特別行政區的立法機關制定的法律須報全國人民代表大會常務委員會備案。備案不影響該法律的生效。
全國人民代表大會常務委員會在徵詢其所屬的香港特別行政區基本法委員會後，如認為香港特別行政區立法機關制定的任何法律不符合本法關於中央管理的事務及中央和香港特別行政區的關係的條款，可將有關法律發回，但不作修改。經全國人民代表大會常務委員會發回的法律立即失效。該法律的失效，除香港特別行政區的法律另有規定外，無溯及力。

1986

(Chi) Article 5

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 16
(Eng) Article 16

1987-ver2

1988-pre-public

1988-public

(Chi) Article 16
(Eng) Article 16

1989-public

(Chi) Article 17
(Eng) Article 17

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 17

Article 18
The laws in force in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be this Law, the laws previously in force in Hong Kong as provided for in Article 8 of this Law, and the laws enacted by the legislature of the Region.
National laws shall not be applied in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region except for those listed in Annex III to this Law. The laws listed therein shall be applied locally by way of promulgation or legislation by the Region.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress may add to or delete from the list of laws in Annex III after consulting its Committee for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the government of the Region. Laws listed in Annex III to this Law shall be confined to those relating to defence and foreign affairs as well as other matters outside the limits of the autonomy of the Region as specified by this Law.
In the event that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress decides to declare a state of war or, by reason of turmoil within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region which endangers national unity or security and is beyond the control of the government of the Region, decides that the Region is in a state of emergency, the Central People's Government may issue an order applying the relevant national laws in the Region.

第十八條
在香港特別行政區實行的法律為本法以及本法第八條規定的香港原有法律和香港特別行政區立法機關制定的法律。
全國性法律除列於本法附件三者外，不在香港特別行政區實施。凡列於本法附件三之法律，由香港特別行政區在當地公佈或立法實施。
全國人民代表大會常務委員會在徵詢其所屬的香港特別行政區基本法委員會和香港特別行政區政府的意見後，可對列於本法附件三的法律作出增減，任何列入附件三的法律，限於有關國防、外交和其他按本法規定不屬於香港特別行政區自治範圍的法律。
全國人民代表大會常務委員會決定宣佈戰爭狀態或因香港特別行政區內發生香港特別行政區政府不能控制的危及國家統一或安全的動亂而決定香港特別行政區進入緊急狀態，中央人民政府可發佈命令將有關全國性法律在香港特別行政區實施。

1986

(Chi) Comments-5
(Chi) Comments

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 17
(Eng) Article 17

1987-ver2

(Eng) Article 17

(Eng) Comments
(Chi) Comments

1988-pre-public

(Chi) Article 17

1988-public

(Chi) Article 17
(Eng) Article 17

1989-public

(Chi) Article 18
(Eng) Article 18

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 18

Article 19
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be vested with independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication.

第十九條
香港特別行政區享有獨立的司法權和終審權。

1986

(Chi) Article 6

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 18
(Eng) Article 18

1987-ver2

(Eng) Article 18

1988-pre-public

(Chi) Article 18.1

1988-public

(Chi) Article 18.1
(Eng) Article 18.1

1989-public

(Chi) Article 19.1
(Eng) Article 19.1

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 19.1

The courts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall have jurisdiction over all cases in the Region, except that the restrictions on their jurisdiction imposed by the legal system and principles previously in force in Hong Kong shall be maintained.

香港特別行政區法院除繼續保持香港原有法律制度和原則對法院審判權所作的限制外，對香港特別行政區所有的案件均有審判權。

1986

(Chi) Article 6

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 81
(Eng) Article 81

1987-ver2

1988-pre-public

1988-public

(Chi) Article 18.2
(Eng) Article 18.2

(Chi) Article 81.2,81.3
(Eng) Article 81.2,81.3

1989-public

(Chi) Article 19.2
(Eng) Article 19.2

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 19.2

The courts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall have no jurisdiction over acts of state such as defence and foreign affairs. The courts of the Region shall obtain a certificate from the Chief Executive on questions of fact concerning acts of state such as defence and foreign affairs whenever such questions arise in the adjudication of cases. This certificate shall be binding on the courts. Before issuing such a certificate, the Chief Executive shall obtain a certifying document from the Central People's Government.

香港特別行政區法院對國防、外交等國家行為無管轄權。香港特別行政區法院在審理案件中遇有涉及國防、外交等國家行為的事實問題，應取得行政長官就該等問題發出的證明文件，上述文件對法院有約束力。行政長官在發出證明文件前，須取得中央人民政府的證明書。

1986

(Chi) Article 6

same

1987-ver1

1987-ver2

(Eng) Article 81.2,81.3

1988-pre-public

(Chi) Article 18.3,18.4

1988-public

(Chi) Article 18.3,18.4<
(Eng) Article 18.3,18.4

1989-public

(Chi) Article 19.3,19.4
(Eng) Article 19.3,19.4

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 19.3

Article 20
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may enjoy other powers granted to it by the National People's Congress, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress or the Central People's Government.

第二十條
香港特別行政區可享有全國人民代表大會和全國人民代表大會常務委員會及中央人民政府授予的其他權力。

1986

(Chi) Article 7

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 19
(Eng) Article 19

1987-ver2

(Eng) Article 19

1988-pre-public

(Chi) Article 19

1988-public

(Chi) Article 19
(Eng) Article 19

1989-public

(Chi) Article 20
(Eng) Article 20

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 20

Article 21
Chinese citizens who are residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be entitled to participate in the management of state affairs according to law.
In accordance with the assigned number of seats and the selection method specified by the National People's Congress, the Chinese citizens among the residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall locally elect deputies of the Region to the National People's Congress to participate in the work of the highest organ of state power.

第二十一條
香港特別行政區居民中的中國公民依法參與國家事務的管理。
根據全國人民代表大會確定的名額和代表產生辦法，由香港特別行政區居民中的中國公民在香港選出香港特別行政區的全國人民代表大會代表，參加最高國家權力機關的工作。

1986

(Chi) Article 8

(Chi) Comments
(Chi) Comments

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 20
(Eng) Article 20

1987-ver2

1988-pre-public

1988-public

(Chi) Article 20
(Eng) Article 20

1989-public

(Chi) Article 21
(Eng) Article 21

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 21

Article 22
No department of the Central People's Government and no province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government may interfere in the affairs which the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region administers on its own in accordance with this Law.
If there is a need for departments of the Central Government, or for provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government to set up offices in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, they must obtain the consent of the government of the Region and the approval of the Central People's Government.
All offices set up in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by departments of the Central Government, or by provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the personnel of these offices shall abide by the laws of the Region.
For entry into the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, people from other parts of China must apply for approval. Among them, the number of persons who enter the Region for the purpose of settlement shall be determined by the competent authorities of the Central People's Government after consulting the government of the Region.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may establish an office in Beijing.

第二十二條
中央人民政府所屬各部門、各省、自治區、直轄市均不得干預香港特別行政區根據本法自行管理的事務。
中央各部門、各省、自治區、直轄市如需在香港特別行政區設立機構，須徵得香港特別行政區政府同意並經中央人民政府批准。
中央各部門、各省、自治區、直轄市在香港特別行政區設立的一切機構及其人員均須遵守香港特別行政區的法律。
中國其他地區的人進入香港特別行政區須辦理批准手續，其中進入香港特別行政區定居的人數由中央人民政府主管部門徵求香港特別行政區政府的意見後確定。
香港特別行政區可在北京設立辦事機構。

1986

(Chi) Article 9

(Chi) Comments
(Chi) Comments

1987-ver1

(Chi) Article 21
(Eng) Article 21

1987-ver2

(Eng) Article 21

1988-pre-public

(Chi) Article 21

1988-public

(Chi) Article 21
(Eng) Article 21

1989-public

(Chi) Article 22<
(Eng) Article 22

1990-NPC

(Chi) Article 22

Article 23
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People's Government, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the Region, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the Region from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.

第二十三條
香港特別行政區應自行立法禁止任何叛國、分裂國家、煽動叛亂、顛覆中央人民政府及竊取國家機密的行為，禁止外國的政治性組織或團體在香港特別行政區進行政治活動，禁止香港特別行政區的政治性組織或團體與外國的政治性組織或團體建立聯繫。

1986