Talking points

Barristers and solicitors stage a silent march to defend judicial independence and protest against the central government's white paper on "one country, two systems". They are particularly angry that the paper states that judges should be patriotic. Lawyers will march from the High Court building to the Court of Final Appeal in Central. One of the main organisers is the Legislative Council's legal representative, Dennis Kwok. This will be the third silent march staged by lawyers since 1999.

A government bid to win support for preliminary funding for two new town projects in the northeast New Territories goes before the Finance Committee again. Members failed to vote on the issue in the past three meetings amid protests by villagers and those opposed to the project. There was violence two weeks ago as demonstrators tried to storm the Legco complex. Restrictions on public entry to the complex will be in force again this afternoon.