; and (B) established a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong except in matters of foreign affairs and defense. (2) The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (in this Act referred to as Basic Law )— (A) guarantees Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy and separate executive, legislative, and independent judicial powers; (B) generally prohibits the central Government of the People's Republic of China from interfering in the affairs that Hong Kong administers on its own according to the Basic Law; (C) protects the rights to free speech, press, assembly, and religion; (D) guarantees residents of Hong Kong the freedom of the person, meaning no Hong Kong resident shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful arrest, detention or imprisonment ; (E) guarantees residents of Hong Kong the right to confidential legal advice, access to the courts, choice of lawyers for timely protection of their lawful rights and interests or for representation in the courts, and to judicial remedies ; (F) provides that the socialist system and policies shall not be practiced in Hong Kong and that Hong Kong’s capitalist system and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50 years (the principle of one country, two systems ); (G) affirms the continuing applicability of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to Hong Kong; (H) provides that the head of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be the Chief Executive; (I) provides that the ultimate aim is the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures ; (J) provides that the legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be the Legislative Council