The power of interpretation of this Law
shall be vested in the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
The Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress shall authorize the courts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region to interpret on their own, in adjudicating cases, the provisions of this Law which are within
the limits of the autonomy
of the Region.
The courts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region may also interpret other provisions of this Law in adjudicating cases. However, if
the courts of the Region,
in adjudicating cases, need to interpret the provisions of this Law concerning affairs which
are the responsibility of the Central People's Government, or concerning the relationship between
the Central Authorities and the Region, and if such interpretation will affect the judgments
on the cases, the courts
of the Region shall, before making their final judgments which are not appealable, seek an interpretation
of the relevant provisions from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress through
the Court of Final Appeal of the Region. When the Standing Committee makes an interpretation
of the provisions
concerned, the courts of the Region, in applying those provisions, shall follow the interpretation
of the Standing Committee. However, judgments previously rendered shall not be affected.
The Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress shall consult its Committee for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region before
giving an interpretation of this Law.
Article 159
The power of amendment of this Law shall
be vested in the National People's Congress.
The power to propose bills for amendments
to this Law shall be vested in the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State
Council and the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region. Amendment bills from the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region shall be submitted to the National People's
Congress by the delegation of the
Region to the National People's Congress after obtaining the consent of two-thirds of the deputies
of the Region to the National People's Congress, two-thirds of all the members of the Legislative
Council of the Region,
and the Chief Executive of the Region.
Before a bill for amendment to this Law
is put on the agenda of the National People's Congress, the Committee for the Basic
Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall study it and submit its views.
No amendment to this Law shall contravene
the established basic policies of the People's Republic of China regarding Hong Kong.