Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), presides over a meeting of the chairman and vice-chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 15, 2011. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature will deliberate draft amendments to the Criminal Procedural Law and an expository bill of the Hong Kong Basic Law at next week's bimonthly session, a statement said on Monday.
The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee will convene its bimonthly session from Aug. 24 to 26, according to a decision made at Monday's meeting of the chairman and vice chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee, which was presided over by Chairman Wu Bangguo.
The agenda of the session also includes reviewing of the expository bill of two stipulations of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the statement said.
One stipulation is: "The Central People's Government shall be responsible for the foreign affairs relating to the HKSAR."
The other stipulation is:
-- "The HKSAR shall be vested with independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication.
-- "The courts of the HKSAR shall have jurisdiction over all cases in the region, except for the restrictions on its jurisdiction imposed by the legal system and principles previously in force in Hong Kong that shall be maintained."
-- "The courts of the HKSAR shall have no jurisdiction over acts of state such as defense and foreign affairs. The courts of the Region shall obtain a certificate from the chief executive on questions of fact concerning acts of state, such as defense and foreign affairs whenever such questions arise in the adjudication of cases. This certificate shall be binding to the courts. Before issuing such a certificate, the chief executive shall obtain a certifying document from the Central People's Government."
The statement of the meeting did not provide details about deliberation of the two bills.
The session will also review a report on the implementation of the country's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) for economic and social development, a report on budget implementation, a report on the enforcement of the law protecting the elderly's rights and interests, a bill amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, as well as some appointments and dismissals, according to the statement.
Wu Bangguo (C), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), presides over a meeting of the chairman and vice-chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 15, 2011. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)