EARLY RULING IN TIME FOR TUNG

Three judges will cut short their lunch break today in an attempt to give Democratic Party boss and barrister Martin Lee time to catch the start of the policy address.

Mr Lee leapt to his feet looking concerned yesterday when Mr Justice Barry Mortimer said the court would give a ruling in the case involving hawker Chung Man-yau at 2.30 this afternoon.

'It so happens it is the policy speech. Although I am no longer in the legislative council, I am still expected to make a response,' he told the court.

Mr Justice Gerald Godfrey quipped: 'We could always give you a small transistor radio and an ear plug.' After a brief consultation, the judges agreed to sit 15 minutes earlier.