SIR Ti Liang Yang, who has stepped down as Chief Justice to stand for chief executive, has confessed he lacks management skills.
But he said this should not prevent him from becoming the first post-1997 leader, since there was a well-developed civil service in place.
Speaking in London, Sir Ti Liang shrugged off allegations he was incompetent at administration and lacked political wisdom.
'These comments and reports are very unfair,' said Sir Ti Liang, adding that administrative skills were not the most important element in running Hong Kong.
'I have been working in the law for decades, so my administrative experience is relatively shallow, but I don't think it is a problem.
'For the chief executive, administrative ability is not the most important quality,' he said.
He said the Judiciary had undergone major reforms in the past few years, though there were still some problems.