Fact · law-order · 2026-10-13
NPCSC interpretation of the Basic Law
人大常委會解釋基本法
Figure and reference date
NPCSC has the power to interpret the Basic Law
全國人大常委會有權解釋《基本法》
Notes and definition
Article 158 of the Basic Law states that the power of interpretation of the Basic Law is vested in the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. NPCSC interpretations are binding on Hong Kong courts. When adjudicating cases involving provisions on affairs within the responsibility of the Central People's Government or the relationship between the Central Authorities and the Region, the courts shall, before making a final judgment, seek an interpretation from the NPCSC.
Other figures in this group (law-order)
Figures in the same group are not necessarily additive — check the basis note above first. the statistics index (same group).
| Item / 項目 | Figure / 數字 | As of / 時點 | Source / 來源 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death penalty abolished in Hong Kong 香港已廢除死刑 | Abolished in 1993; last execution in 1966 1993年廢除；最後一次執行為1966年 Hong Kong abolished the death penalty in 1993 via the Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance; all capital offences (murder, treason, piracy with violence) were changed to life imprisonment. The last execution took place in November 1966. Post-1997 the Basic Law preserves the laws previously in force, and the abolition remains. | 1993-04-23 | Security Bureau: Death penalty abolished |
| Statutory minimum marriage age 法定最低結婚年齡 | 16 years; parental/guardian consent required under 21 16歲；21歲以下需父母或監護人同意 Under the Marriage Ordinance (Cap 181), the minimum marriage age is 16 (in completed years). Persons aged 16 to under 21 must obtain the written consent of a parent or legal guardian; where no qualified person can give consent, the court may grant it. | 2026-10-15 | Marriage Ordinance (Cap 181) |
| Forms of address for judges in court 法庭上對法官嘅稱呼 | High Court: My Lord/Lady; District Court: Your Honour; Magistrates' Court: Your Worship 高等法院：法官閣下；區域法院：法官閣下；裁判法院：裁判官閣下 In Hong Kong courts the form of address depends on the level of court. High Court and Court of Appeal judges are addressed as "My Lord" or "My Lady"; District Court judges as "Your Honour"; magistrates as "Your Worship". Court of Final Appeal judges are also addressed as "My Lord/Lady". | 2026-10-15 | Judiciary: Court procedure and forms of address |
| Hong Kong ID card registration and carrying age 香港身份證登記及攜帶年齡 | Must register at 11; must carry at 18 11歲須登記；18歲須隨身攜帶 Under the Registration of Persons Ordinance, Hong Kong residents aged 11 must register for an identity card; those aged 18 must carry it at all times and produce it when required by an authorised officer. Persons under 18 are not legally required to carry it, but must produce it if requested. | 2026-10-15 | Immigration Department: Hong Kong identity card registration |
| Entry requirements for female firefighters in Hong Kong 香港消防處女性消防員入職條件 | FSD firefighter recruitment has no gender restriction; both men and women may apply 消防處招聘消防員唔設性別限制，男女均可投考 Hong Kong Fire Services Department firefighter positions are openly recruited, with entry requirements (fitness test, education, eyesight) applying to all candidates regardless of gender. Female recruits perform the same frontline firefighting and rescue duties as male colleagues. | 2026-10-13 | Hong Kong Fire Services Department: firefighter recruitment and entry requirements |
| Legal treatment of pre-marital property in Hong Kong 香港婚前財產嘅法律處理 | Hong Kong follows a separate property regime; pre-marital assets generally remain owned by the original owner 香港實行分別財產制，婚前財產原則上歸各自所有 Hong Kong has no mainland-style pre-marital property registration. Under common law and the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Ordinance (Cap. 192), assets acquired before marriage generally remain the separate property of the original owner and are not automatically split equally on divorce. However, when granting ancillary relief, the court considers all resources of both parties (including pre-marital assets) and makes a fair distribution based on the circumstances. | 2026-10-13 | Hong Kong Law: Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Ordinance (Cap. 192) |
| Hong Kong probate and estate administration process 香港遺囑認證及遺產執行程序 | A Hong Kong will must obtain a Grant of Probate from the High Court before it can be executed 香港遺囑須向高等法院申請遺囑認證（Probate）先可執行 In Hong Kong, after the testator passes away, the executor must apply to the Probate Registry of the High Court for a Grant of Probate. If there is no will, a close relative applies for a Letter of Administration. For a will involving Mainland assets, the Mainland Inheritance Law and cross-jurisdictional judicial assistance arrangements apply; a Hong Kong Grant of Probate does not directly take effect in the Mainland and separate inheritance procedures are required. | 2026-10-13 | Hong Kong Judiciary: probate and estate administration |
| Number of articles in the Hong Kong Basic Law 香港基本法條目數量 | 160 articles plus 3 annexes 160 條正文＋3 個附件 The Basic Law of the HKSAR contains 160 articles in 9 chapters, plus 3 annexes (Annex I: method for selecting the Chief Executive; Annex II: method for forming the Legislative Council; Annex III: national laws applied in the HKSAR). | 2026-10-13 | Hong Kong Legal System: The Basic Law |
| Right of abode in Hong Kong 香港居留權 | Eligible persons have the right of abode in Hong Kong 符合條件者享有香港居留權 Under the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115), HKSAR permanent residents have the right of abode, including the right to enter Hong Kong, not to be subject to any condition of stay, and not to be deported. Permanent resident status can be acquired by birth in Hong Kong, 7 years' ordinary residence, etc. | 2026-10-13 | Immigration Department: Right of abode in Hong Kong |
Verified questions that cite this figure
What is NPCSC interpretation of the Basic Law and why is it allowed?
Under Article 158 of the Basic Law, the power of interpretation of the Basic Law is vested in the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. NPCSC interpretations are binding on Hong Kong courts, reflecting the Central Authorities' constitutional jurisdiction over Hong Kong.
（已核對問題頁目前只有中文版；上面嘅英文標題同答案本身係資料檔嘅官方英文欄位。）
How to cite this figure
Hong Kong Story, “NPCSC interpretation of the Basic Law”, https://hongkongstory.org/en/facts/npcsc-interpretation-basic-law, data as at 2026-10-13 (retrieved ＿).
中文：香港紀事館，〈人大常委會解釋基本法〉，https://hongkongstory.org/facts/npcsc-interpretation-basic-law，資料時點 2026-10-13（查閱日期 ＿）。
Machine-readable: /api/v1/facts.json (id = npcsc-interpretation-basic-law) · OpenAPI 3.1 ·/llms.txt
Registered source
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress: Basic Law interpretation
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
The official document carries no registered publication date, so only the retrieval date 2026-10-13 is given — no publication year is invented.
This site is a secondary compilation: the official text prevails. If the figure above differs from the official document, the official document is correct.