Tough vote for barristers
The Bar Council's stance on the provisional legislature would make it very difficult for the Bar Association to put forward any names for the Selection Committee, association chairman Gladys Li Chi-hei has warned.
'My personal view is that it's very difficult for the Bar Association to be actively involved,' Ms Li said.
She attributed it to the Bar Council's views that there was no legal or constitutional basis for the provisional legislature.
The Bar Association will hold an extraordinary general meeting on September 6, when members vote whether to join the 400-member body to elect the chief executive and the provisional legislature.
One proposal was not to take part, while two others were based on participation.
'Speaking for myself, I would choose the first option, which is not to participate,' Ms Li said.
Some religious groups have indicated they will join the Selection Committee but will abstain from voting for the provisional legislature.
'I think once you have signed a form, saying that you are willing to participate in the process when you know very well that you are not willing to participate in the process, that's a lie,' Ms Li said.
The Law Society will not impose restrictions or guidelines on how its members should vote on the Selection Committee, even though it maintained the provisional legislature had no legal basis.
Society chairman Christopher Chan Cheuk said it was difficult to make rules because candidates would sit on the 400-member committee in a personal capacity.
'Any member can express their own views,' he said.
He said the society would only act as a 'mail box', verifying the details on applications before passing them on to the Preparatory Committee.
