基本法

The '基本法', or Basic Law, is the constitutional document of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Enacted in 1990 and effective since the 1997 handover, it serves as Hong Kong's 'mini-constitution'. The Basic Law codifies the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle, stipulating that Hong Kong's way of life, capitalist system, and fundamental rights and freedoms will remain unchanged for 50 years. For anyone interested in Hong Kong's legal or political landscape, this term is unavoidable. It is the foundation of the city's judicial independence and governance, and its interpretation is often at the center of major news stories and legal debates in the city.