@CyberNews_com This proposed legislation may or may not be good for HK’s future; but it is well within the letter and spirit of “One Country, Two Systems”. Some of those in the #HKProtests need a constitutional law and history lesson amongst other things. (1/10)
@CyberNews_com The 1C2S framework was conceived through, and has always rested on, the principle of ‘subsidiarity’, not ‘parity’ as some would like to think. (2/10)
@CyberNews_com From day one, the writ of 1C2S has run *only insofar as it does not conflict with the existing constitution of China*, and the Chinese constitution has always been “senior”. (3/10)
@CyberNews_com This manifests itself primarily in defence and then law and order matters, as would always be the case. The potential new security law and the extradition treaty are but instances of the same. (4/10)
@CyberNews_com The two historical analogies one might draw are: first, the seniority of the British “constitution” and courts over that of Hong Kong prior to 1997; and secondly, the seniority of the EU constitution and courts over its member states. (5/10)
@CyberNews_com I am not directly drawing a parallel between the PRC and the EU, though doubtless wags would want to do just that; but the constitutional similarities are clear. (6/10)
@CyberNews_com It is instructive that legal and civil authorities such as Henry Litton have been clear about this since the beginning. Again, this is not about “liking” the change per se; but the changes certainly aren’t shockingly new ... (7/10)
@CyberNews_com ... and certainly do not “overturn” 1C2S as it was always understood by British or Chinese civil servants. The current interpretation of “controversy” literally exists only in the minds of mindless protestors. (8/10)
@CyberNews_com I for one do not intend to fall into the trap of seeming to “defend” “changes” to 1C2S imposed by China. Rather, the proposed legislation plainly falls within the existing 1C2S framework and this needs to be clearly articulated. (9/10)
@CyberNews_com The future of HK is something althogether different, and some of those supporting the protests “are, I think, looking back, not forwards” to quote Harold Wilson. But that’s for another thread. (10/10)
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