Hong Kong’s leader, the chief executive, reports to the central Chinese government.

Zhang made these comments at the 25 anniversary of the promulgation of the constitution of Hong Kong, known as the Basic Law.

“The chief executive’s power is not limited to leading the Hong Kong administration, but has a dual role – [as] head of the Hong Kong government and also the head of the Hong Kong special administrative region”.

And unlike previous official statements on “one country, two systems” which tend to follow a predictable trajectory, this one by Beijing’s top man in Hong Kong is shocking for two reasons – it’s new and it sounds terrifying.

But pan-democratic lawmaker Frederick Fung said the separation of powers is enshrined in the Basic Law itself.

“Under the Basic Law, the executive, legislature and judiciary have their own powers and duties. The three powers are not equally important and do not share the same status”, Prof Lau said.

Leung angrily called out those who were criticizing Zhang before the full script of his speech had even been published.

A firework show is held at the Hong Kong Disneyland in Hong Kong, south China, September 11, 2015.

Director of the Central Government’s Liaison Office, Zhang Xiaoming.

Since 1999, the Justice Department has supported 288 mainland judicial officials to learn the Common Law and to serve internships at law-related organizations in Hong Kong.

However, the CE said Zhang’s critics have not been fair.

“His job, when it comes down to it, is to use [the threat of] Beijing as a way of keeping Hong Kong under control”. The Chief Executive will be once again be chosen by a 1,200-strong committee comprised of mostly pro-Beijing personalities. Leong told RTHK.

“The Chinese government may have gone too far in verbally expressing their lack of respect for Hong Kong’s existing law when digging up Deng Xiaoping’s remarks to suddenly deny principles and rules clearly and unequivocally outlined in the Basic Law, which until now had not been challenged (and are part of Hong Kong’s core values)”, Prof Katchi stated.

The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration treaty also promised that the city’s way of life would remain unchanged for 50 years, although Chinese officials have since said they are no longer bound by it. He stated that Zhang wanted “to re-write the Basic Law”.

The first thing it did when Hong Kong people tried to make it live up to its word regarding their constitutional development was to tighten its grip on the population.

“Its political system of checks and balances has sheltered its people from abuse by the powers that be and ensured their way of life, without fear it will be taken away by their government”, it said.

Beijing keeps saying it’s proud of the success of “one country, two systems” but the fact is it does not know how Hong Kong works.

The association said Zhang’s comments were “political commentary” and it urged him and Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice to clarify the position.