TNAG-1722-FCO40-2415-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1988 — Page 58

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

5

Shao Tienren: In the example, the list of the English

Lu Ping:

Wang Shuwen:

'Act includes drug trafficking as an extraditable offence whereas Hong Kong is still adopting

the 1935 law where the crimes list did not include drug trafficking. The Court declares that there are inconsistencies

and the law is void. Does that decision apply retrospectively?

That is not the point. This is an example which illustrates that when repugnancy

is declared, it may be a part but not the whole of the legislation that is repugnant.

The situation may be different in different countries. Taking Japan as an example, when the district courts rule that there are inconsistencies, the decision cannot take effect unless it has gone through

the Supreme Court. There was a case concerning the stationing of army. The Hokaido court made its judgment but the Supreme Court ruled otherwise. Do all levels of courts in Hong Kong have the same power to rule on repugnancy? I have also a second question. When the Japanese court declares that

a law contradicts the constitution, that law is not repealed immediately. The Diet will pass the resolution that the law is void. When the Hong Kong court rules that there are inconsistencies, will the law be invalid for the particular case or will the law become invalid for

all future cases?

/....6

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