Lawyers' answer to row over chief executive's term - strip law of numbers

Top lawyers close to Beijing say they have found a 'simple solution' to end legal wrangling over the length of the next chief executive's term - strip the law of references that say what it should be.

They said Hong Kong also should not pass a law stating how long the new chief executive should serve because this was a matter purely for the central government.

The lawyers also suggested that any legal challenge to the two-year term proposed for the next leader would be likely to fail in the absence of such legislation.

The views were put forward by the influential Basic Law Institute and backed by Basic Law Committee member Albert Chen Hung-yee, who advises the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

Barrister Johnny Mok Shiu-luen, who prepared a paper on the subject for the institute, said the length of a chief executive's term fell within Beijing's power to appoint Hong Kong's leader.

'It is not necessary for a law to be passed here to say how long the chief executive should serve. How can you pass a law to bind the jurisdiction of the central government?'

Professor Chen said: 'It is a matter for the central government to decide on the term of office. This is not a matter for Hong Kong legislation. It is a matter of how the central government interprets and applies the Basic Law.'