Hong Kong - A mainland Chinese official has called for a ruling by Hong Kong's highest court to be changed, in comments seen by democratic politicians and lawyers as a threat to the territory's autonomy.
Local newspapers today quoted Mr Zhao Qizheng, head of China's State Council (cabinet) information office, as saying a landmark ruling by Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal on right of abode was a mistake and should be changed.
His comments at a Beijing reception yesterday evening follow criticism of the ruling by four mainland legal experts. The experts said the Hong Kong court had overridden the power of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee and its ruling contravened the Basic Law - Hong Kong's constitution following the July 1997 handover from Britain to China.
The ruling last month awarded right of abode in Hong Kong to illegitimate mainland children of Hong Kong residents and to children born before one of their parents became a permanent resident.