Page:Hong Kong Basic Law consultation report vol. 1.djvu/79

 interpreted by the Central Authorities as affairs under its jurisdiction. If after 1997, the Central Authorities consider that the laws enacted by the HKSAR on its own are so inadequate for prohibiting such acts as treason that the interests of the Central Authorities and national unity are undermined, the following situations may emerge:

Members agreed that the above-mentioned situations were worrying and therefore put forward the following suggestions:

3. A member pointed out that the interpretation and handling of such acts as treason and secession in China were very much different from those in Hong Kong. He was afraid that China and the HKSAR will have conflicts over the interpretation of such terms in future. Even though it is clearly stipulated in this article that the HKSAR may "enact laws on its own to prohibit" such acts, it is possible that the Chinese authorities may disagree with the way in which the Government of the HKSAR handles these acts and impose the mainland standard on Hong Kong. If such a case is true, then the protection provided by this article will only be nominal.

4. A member expressed a different view. He held that any law to be enacted by the Government of the HKSAR in accordance with this article would first be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record as prescribed by Article 17. Should the Central Government