HONG KONG -- Beijing has passed a motion to interpret two articles of Hong Kong's national security law, affirming the local government's unfettered power on security matters despite the territory's tradition of judicial independence.
China's state broadcaster CCTV on Friday said the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress voted to interpret Article 14, which states that the Hong Kong government will form a committee to "advance the development of the legal system and enforcement mechanisms of the city for safeguarding national security," and Article 47, which requires the courts to obtain a certificate from the chief executive for evidence that involves state secrets.
