TNAG-2320-FCO40-3364-Human-rights-in-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 126

and that:

"they will remain unchanged for fifty years.

The Basic Law was duly adopted by the Seventh NPC at its

In

third session on 4 April 1990. It has been published.

there are a number of

the English language version,

provisions relevant to the issue in hand.

For example, among

the general principles are the commitment to an "independent

judicial power" including that of final adjudication in accordance with the provisions of this law; 4 an obligation

on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to "safeguard

the rights and freedoms of the residents

in accordance

with law":5

promise of the protection of the right of

private ownership of property in accordance with law; the

permission to use the English language as an official

language,

establishment of a system for "safeguarding the fundamental

freedoms of its residents

rights and

8 systems".

including by the

judiciary;

7

and the

and judicial

There is a commitment that the socialist

system, which obtains in the PRC, shall not be practised in

Hong Kong and that the "previous capitalist system and way of

life shall remain unchanged for fifty years".9

commitment to the common law is found in article 8:

A

"The laws previously in force in Hong Kong, that is, the common law, rules of equity, ordinances, subordinate legislation and customary law shall be maintained, except for any that contravene this Law, and subject to any amendment by the legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region."

Chapter III contains

residents".

"fundamental rights and duties of the

These

include

familiar provisions such as

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