Chapter VIII Interpretation and Amendment of the Basic Law
Article 158
(1) The power of interpretation of this Law shall be vested in the
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) 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
(1) The power of amendment of this Law shall be vested in the
National People's Congress.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
