China draft interpretation of HK law allows limited executive term News
China draft interpretation of HK law allows limited executive term

[JURIST] The Legislative Commission of the National People's Congress [backgrounder] of China has presented a draft interpretation of Hong Kong's Basic Law [official text] that would permit a new Hong Kong Chief Executive to be elected to the remainder of the original executive term of his predecessor if that is cut short. Opposition leaders in Hong Kong are alleging that China is adopting this view in order to ensure that Acting Chief Executive Donald Tsang [official profile], the mainland choice to fill the post, is given the benefit of two years in office before having to run as a candidate to permanently replace Tung Chee Hwa [archived profile], who stepped aside in March. Tsang previously referred the dispute to the NPC [JURIST report], which claims interpretative authority over Hong Kong's constitutional Basic Law under the 1997 re-unification agreement. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of Hong Kong [JURIST news archive]. China Daily has local coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

UK parliament passed Statute of Westminster

On December 3, 1931, the UK Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster, under which the British dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Irish Free State and Newfoundland gained complete legislative independence. The statute received royal assent and came into force on December 11.

President Theodore Roosevelt calls for dissolution of trusts

On December 3, 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt called for the dissolution of business trusts in his first State of the Union address. Roosevelt would go on to dissolve 44 trusts during his administration, earning the nickname "Trust Buster".