A former convict vowed yesterday to represent himself in court in trying to overturn a decision by former Governor Chris Patten after he was denied access to a government lawyer for a judicial review.
The Legal Aid Department rejected Mok Kwong-yuen's application for public funds for his battle against the Government, saying he did not have 'reasonable grounds'.
In a letter to Mok, an officer wrote: 'You have failed to show that you have reasonable grounds for taking, defending, continuing or being a party to the proceedings to which your application relates or would relate if proceedings were to be issued.' But Mok, 36, believed the decision was unfair because he was 'unfairly treated' by the Government before and after his release in June.
The man, who spent 19 years in jail for a murder he committed when he was 17, was sentenced for an unlimited period.
Under an order from Mr Patten, Mok was released from Shek Pik prison and sent to a halfway house with three juvenile offenders.
But he believes the trio's licences had a shorter expiry period, ranging from seven to 22 months. Mok has to live at Pelican House hostel in Chai Wan, managed by the Correctional Services Department, for the next two years.