'Joint Checkpoint Plan Needs No Basic Law Article'

The Secretary for Justice, Teresa Cheng, said on Friday that the government does not have to refer to any specific provision in the Basic Law for the setting up of a mainland area within the cross-border rail link’s future West Kowloon terminus.

Speaking at a meeting of the Legco bills committee scrutinising proposed laws that will allow mainland officers to operate the co-located checkpoint, Cheng likened the case to legislation for the statutory minimum wage several years ago, saying that Hong Kong is free to introduce laws that are beneficial to the city.

“It is about the making of a policy, and we are not required to cite a particular article in the basic law to facilitate co-location,” she told lawmakers.

“What we have to look at is to see whether this bill contravenes the Basic Law,” said Cheng. “The Basic Law allows a high degree of autonomy, including articles 2, 7, 154, 119, et cetera, et cetera. These articles allow Hong Kong to exercise a high degree of autonomy in order to launch policies,” she said.