China says only it can rule on Hong Kong constitution

Beijing (AFP) – China’s rubber-stamp parliament is the only authority that can make decisions on Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, a spokesman for the legislature said Tuesday, slamming a ruling by the semi-autonomous city’s high court that overturned a ban on face masks worn by protesters.

“Hong Kong High Court’s ruling severely weakened the governance of the Hong Kong chief executive and SAR government,” said Jian Tiewei, spokesman of the legislative affairs commission of the standing committee of National People’s Congress, according to state media.