Pan-democrat lawmakers will press ahead with a move to grill a top government minister at the centre of a conflict of interest row using special legislative powers - despite the fact it is doomed to fail.
Pan-democrats want to question development minister Paul Chan Mo-po over his ownership of farmland in Kwu Tung that could become more valuable under a plan for a new town.
The land forms part of a wider area in which the government plans to develop a new town in the northeast New Territories to alleviate the city's housing shortage.
But pro-Beijing opponents of the plan to grill Chan outnumber pan-democrats in the Legislative Council. They say they will reject any motion to invoke the Powers and Privileges Ordinance.
Civic Party lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki plans to table a motion at the first full Legco session after the summer recess next Wednesday calling for an inquiry.
The motion will be discussed by legislators at tomorrow's House Committee.