FORMER Liberal Party chairman Allen Lee Peng-fei yesterday won sweeping applause when he became the first leading politician to hit out at the Law Society's stance on the right of abode issue. Mr Lee also expressed disappointment at his own party at a public forum attended by dozens of lawyers. The veteran politician questioned why the Government had to rock the basis of Hong Kong's success - the rule of law - by opting to ask the National People's Congress Standing Committee to reinterpret two relevant Basic Law provisions. He argued that the Bar Association should not be the only one to uphold the rule of law. 'I am disappointed at the Law Society. What kind of laws is it based on?' Mr Lee asked. 'And I am really puzzled by the fact there are splits like that in the legal profession. What kind of training do you guys have?' he said. Barrister and Democratic Party chairman Martin Lee Chu-ming SC immediately shouted from the floor: 'Ask them [the solicitors]!' Law Society president Anthony Chow Wing-kin said this month that both the interpretation and the amendment routes were legal. He declined to say which one the Government should take. Like the Bar and democrats, Mr Allen Lee has been critical of the Government's decision to try to limit the number of migrants by taking the reinterpretation route rather than the amendment route. In a plea for a joint fight to uphold the rule of law, he lamented his party's decision to back a government motion to opt for reinterpretation. 'I am not a lawyer, but I know one thing - if our Court of Final Appeal judgment is not final, then we will not have that rule of law,' he said. Emotion ran high as he encouraged democrats such as Mr Martin Lee and non-affiliated legislator Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, from the floor, to fight on. 'You spoke up too late. You must speak for Hong Kong. You are the politicians,' he said. 'I am very disappointed at my own party for not doing so.'
