A pro-democracy activist said yesterday he was seeking a judicial review which could block the appointment of Hong Kong's new chief executive.
Carl Ching from the 100-member Grassroots Democratic Society is going to the High Court to challenge China's preference for the territory's new leader to serve only a two-year term.
He will argue that the territory's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, clearly states that a chief executive serves a five-year term and that the two-year option is unconstitutional.
Ching said his legal challenge would also take issue with the "undemocratic nature" of the 800-member election committee due to pick Hong Kong's new leader on July 10.
A separate legal challenge is being mounted by pro-democracy lawmaker Albert Chan (陳偉業). Ching said he had spoken to the legislator and they had agreed to file two separate cases.
The legal challenges could potentially derail the selection of a new leader by the largely pro-Beijing election committee, which is expected to choose current acting chief executive Donald Tsang (
The selection process follows the early resignation last month of Tung Chee-hwa (
Tung cited ill health but is widely believed to have been forced to step down by Chinese leaders frustrated at his weak leadership and unpopularity, which sparked anti-government protests.
China has given its tacit backing to Tsang -- who has not yet announced his intention to stand -- and made it clear it also wants him to serve only the last two years of his second five-year term.
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