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(3) In all laws previously in force words and expressions listed in Schedule 8 shall be construed according to that Schedule.

(4) In this section—

“Basic Law” (《基本法》) means the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China;

“laws previously in force” (原有法律) means the common law, rules of equity, Ordinances, subsidiary legislation and customary law in force immediately before 1 July 1997 and adopted as laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.”.

6. Schedule added

The Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap. 1) is amended by adding—

Construction on and After 1 July 1997 of Words and Expressions in Laws Previously in Force

1. Any reference in any provision to Her Majesty, the Crown, the British Government or the Secretary of State (or to similar names, terms or expressions) where the content of the provision—

(a) relates to title to land in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;

(b) involves affairs for which the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China has responsibility;

(c) involves the relationship between the Central Authorities and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,

shall be construed as a reference to the Central People’s Government or other competent authorities of the People’s Republic of China.

2. Any reference in any provision to Her Majesty, the Crown, the British Government or the Secretary of State (or to similar names, terms or expressions) in contexts other than those specified in section 1 shall be construed as a reference to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

3. Any reference to Her Majesty in Council or to the Privy Council, where the content of the provision relates to appellate jurisdiction in relation to Hong Kong, shall be construed as a reference to the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.

4. Any reference to Her Majesty in Council or to the Privy Council in contexts other than its appellate jurisdiction shall be construed in the same manner as references to Her Majesty are construed under sections 1 and 2.

5. Any reference to a Government agency which bears a name which includes the word “Royal” shall be read—

(a) as if the word “Royal” were omitted; and

(b) as a reference to the corresponding Government agency of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

6. Any reference to the Colony of Hong Kong (or to similar names, terms or expressions) shall be construed as a reference to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and any reference to the boundaries of the Colony of Hong Kong shall be construed as a reference to the boundaries as specified in the map of the administrative division of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region published by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.