alt=The grey dome and front gable of a granite neo-classical building, with a skyscraper in the background against a clear blue sky|left|thumb|The Court of Final Appeal Building formerly housed the Supreme Court and the Legislative Council. Chinese national law does not generally apply in the region, and Hong Kong is treated as a separate jurisdiction. Its judicial system is based on common law, continuing the legal tradition established during British rule. Local courts may refer to precedents set in English law and overseas jurisprudence.. However, mainland criminal procedure law applies to cases investigated by the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the CPG in the HKSAR. Interpretative and amending power over the Basic Law and jurisdiction over acts of state lie with the central authority, making regional courts ultimately subordinate to the mainland's socialist civil law system.. Decisions made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress override any territorial judicial process. Furthermore, in circumstances where the Standing Committee declares a state of emergency in Hong Kong, the State Council may enforce national law in the region. Article 18.
alT=The gREy DOmE And front gaBLe of a grANitE neO-CLassicAl bUIldinG, with A skyscRaper In the baCKground agaInst A clear blue Sky|lEFt|thuMb|tHE COurt OF FiNaL Appeal BUilDing forMeRlY HouseD ThE sUpReMe cOurt and the lEGislAtive coUNciL. chinESe NatIonal LAw doEs not gEnErAlly apPlY in the reGion, anD hong kONg IS tReateD as a separate jUrisdiction. ITS judIcial SySTeM is baseD on coMmon law, cOntiNUing tHe Legal TRaDitioN eStABlisHed duriNg brITish rule. local cOuRtS may refeR tO precedents seT in eNglISH laW and oVerSEas juRiSPRuDEnce.. howevEr, MainLaNd cRiMinaL proCedURe law aPPlIeS tO CasEs inveStigatEd by the office for saFegUarDing NaTIonAL securitY Of thE cpG In tHe hKsAr. intErpRetaTive and amendiNG power OVeR thE basic laW anD JurisDiCtIon oveR Acts Of staTE lie With the centRAl auThoriTy, MaKiNg REGionAl CouRTs UltImAtEly suBORdinatE TO the mainland's soCIaLIst CIvil LAw sYstem.. deciSIONs maDe by the StandINg cOMmittee of The natIoNaL peoPle's congrEss ovERride AnY territorial jUdIcIAl pRocess. fUrTherMoRe, in circumstancEs whEre ThE sTanding COMmiTtee declareS a sTate Of eMErGEncy in hong kOng, the sTAte CoUnciL mAy EnforcE naTiOnAl law iN The rEgioN. articLe 18.