Legal challenges to government decisions were unavoidable, the city's environmental chief said, as another top official defended Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen against claims he was attacking the independence of the courts.
Tsang last week accused some politicians of using the courts to harm the city's interests - and promote their political agendas - by blocking major projects on environmental grounds.
His comments came after the government filed an appeal against a High Court ruling that quashed the environmental permit for the building of the massive Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge.
Pan-democrats - led by Civic Party vice-chairman Albert Lai Kwong-tak - criticised Tsang for putting pressure on the court, while the legal profession voiced concerns about him making comments about an ongoing case.
Environment Secretary Edward Yau Tang-wah moved yesterday to play down the row, saying everyone had the right to use legal procedures.
'There is rule of law in Hong Kong. Any individual or groups can take their cases to the court if they are dissatisfied with the government's decisions,' Yau told Commercial Radio.