Basic Law body’s new face relishes role
Legislator Priscilla Leung has recently become a member of Hong Kong SAR Basic Law Committee. She tells Joseph Li about her opinions on several hot legal issues such as the co-location arrangement and national anthem bill.
Priscilla Leung Meifun revels in adding a new post to her existing public roles. Apart from being a legislative councilor, barrister and academic who teaches law at the City University of Hong Kong, she has recently become a member of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee under the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.
The Basic Law Committee advises the NPCSC on matters related to articles 17, 18, 158 and 159 of the Basic Law.
Upon Elsie Leung Oi-sie’s retirement as deputy director of the Basic Law Committee, Maria Tam Wai-chu took over and Priscilla Leung has taken over Tam’s previous role.
“It is a very meaningful job and it has long been my aspiration to become a Basic Law Committee member,” she told China Daily in an exclusive interview.
“I relish this post because it can work well with my capacity as a member of the Legislative Council and my teaching of the Chinese Constitution and Basic Law at the university. In fact, a lot of LegCo affairs, including the president’s powers and the Rules of Procedure, are related to the Basic Law. Particularly, it is very good synergy for me as I have the opportunity to discuss Basic Law with the young people and young lawyers.”
Leung is the only newcomer among the six Hong Kong committee members but a few members do not have a legal background.
“It is alright if other members have political backgrounds. With members from different backgrounds, we play different roles and share the views of one another.
“The best thing I want to achieve is that we, as Hong Kong members, reflect the Hong Kong situation in the Basic Law context and discuss with the six Chinese mainland members of the committee before coming up with better explanations to Hong Kong society in fulfilling a bridging role between Hong Kong and the mainland,” she said with great enthusiasm.
Between 1987 and 1989, Leung studied the national Constitution in Beijing and was among the first batch of students of Professor Xu Zhongde, who was later dubbed one of China’s four legal patriarchs, together with three other renowned professors.
She recalled: “At that time, the Basic Law was still at the drafting stage. Since I witnessed the passage of the Basic Law, I treasure more the unique role of the Hong Kong SAR. In fact, there were different voices at that time, with voices questioning why so much would be given to Hong Kong.”
Leung does not think Basic Law Committee membership will seriously aggravate her existing workload.
“Officially, the committee holds six meetings annually. Special meetings may be held if the NPCSC wants to consult our views in such circumstance as interpretation of a provision of the Basic Law. In fact, many Executive Council and LegCo members wear many hats. It is not a question of extra work, but a question of whether you have the expertise suitable for the position,” she explained.