The Basic Law

The Basic Law provides a constitutional framework for the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region. It institutionalises the concept of 'one
country two systems'.

The Basic Law Drafting Committee and Basic Law Consultative
Committee were established in 1985 to undertake the drafting of the
document and to canvass public views on the drafts.

The first draft was published in April 1988, followed by a five-month
public consultation exercise. The second draft, endorsed in February 1989
by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) for
further consultation, reflected many of the views expressed during the
first round of consultation. The second consultation exercise ended in
October 1989. The second draft of the Basic Law was further reviewed
in the light of the outcome of that exercise and formally adopted in April
1990 by the NPC, together with the designs for the flag and emblem of
the SAR. The Basic Law came into effect on July 1, 1997.

The Basic Law clearly prescribes that the social, economic and political
systems in Hong Kong will be different from those in the mainland of
China. It protects the rights, freedoms and life-style of Hong Kong
people. The Basic Law guarantees the independence of Hong Kong's
judiciary and, apart from foreign affairs and defence, gives Hong Kong
people full responsibility to manage their own affairs. It allows the
HKSAR complete financial autonomy, and the independence of its
monetary system. It establishes Hong Kong as a separate customs
territory, and enables it to work directly with the international community
to control trade in strategic commodities, drugs, illegal transshipments,
and to protect intellectual property rights.

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