'Apathetic lawyers may turn backs on poll'

Non-affiliated legislator Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee warned yesterday that lawyers' disillusionment with the Government could pose a threat to the turnout in the legal functional poll in September.

Announcing her intention to stand in the sector, Ms Ng, who first joined the legislature in 1995, said many friends within the profession had urged her to stand again. She pledged to continue her efforts to uphold the rule of law and fight for the rights of the profession.

Ms Ng has summed up her work in the legislature in the past two years in a detailed report which includes her role in the council and her work for the legal profession.

She believes the forthcoming campaign will be a difficult one. 'My biggest worry for the coming Legco election is . . .the disillusionment among members of the legal profession towards the future and the administration of the entire SAR Government,' Ms Ng said.

There are 4,181 registered voters in the legal functional constituency.

One problem facing Ms Ng is that many lawyers will be on overseas holidays next month and not all of them will return before polling day on September 10.