TNAG-1862-FCO40-2639-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1989 — Page 154

It is also our understanding that:

(i) Under Chinese legal principles, any interpretation of the Basic Law given by the Standing Committee under Article 157 must be consistent with the overall purposes and principles of the Basic Law

(ii) Interpretations given by the Standing Committee under Article

157 will not amount to some kind of re-trial of cases heard in the

SAR courts. They will be restricted to interpretations of the

relevant provisions of the Basic Law described in paragraph 5 above.

Thus, the Standing Committee will not be a Court of Appeal from the

Hong Kong courts. The Hong Kong SAR will, under the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, enjoy independent judicial power,

including that of final adjudication.