The standing committee of China's top legislature began its regular session on Friday in Beijing and one of its agenda is to make interpretations on Annex I and Annex II of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

A meeting of the National People's Congress Standing Committee chairman and vice-chairmen held in late March in Beijing Friday set the schedule for the upcoming meeting.

The members of the Standing Committee will deliberate the draft of interpretations on Article 7 of Annex I and Article 3 of Annex II of the Basic Law, involving Hong Kong's political development after 2007, suggested by the meeting of chairman and vice-chairmen held in late March.

Article 7 of Annex I reads: If there is a need to amend the method for selecting the Chief Executives for the terms subsequent to the year 2007, such amendments must be made with the endorsement of a two-thirds majority of all the members of the Legislative Council and the consent of the Chief Executive, and they shall be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for approval.

Article 3 of Annex II reads: Method for the formation of the Legislative Council and its voting procedures subsequent to the year 2007

With regard to the method for forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and its procedures for voting on bills and motions after 2007, if there is a need to amend the provisions of this Annex, such amendments must be made with the endorsement of a two-thirds majority of all the members of the Council and the consent of the Chief Executive, and they shall be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record.

Other items of the agenda include: first considering the draft amendment to the law governing prevention and control of infectious diseases, the draft law concerning online signatures, and the draft amendment to the system of participation of the people's assessor and deliberating the draft amendment to the foreign trade law for the third time.

(China Daily April 2, 2004)