TNAG-2168-FCO40-3105-House-of-Commons-Foreign-Affairs-Committee-inquiry-into-Hong-1990 — Page 16

AMENDMENTS TO THE BASIC LAW

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Under Article 159, the NPC has the power of amendment of Basic Law. We could not expect otherwise, since the NPC is the body which enacted the law. But the power to propose Bills of amendment is vested in (a) the Standing Committee

of the NPC, (b) the State Council, and (c) the SAR. Bills proposed by the SAR require the consent of two-thirds of the Legislative Council, and the Chief Executive of the Region, (as well as two-thirds of the Deputies of the Region to the NPC). This is welcome as ensuring that a Bill emanating

from the SAR must have local approval.

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