Updated at 2.49pm: Former legislator Gary Cheng Kai-nam, failed in his last-ditched attempt to have a bi-lingual judge presiding over his trial.
After hearing a one-hour submission by barrister Kevin Egan, Cheng's counsel, district judge Alan Wright refused the application for him to discharge himself and divert the case to a bi-lingual judge.
Judge Wright said he would give his reasons of refusal at the appropriate time.
Cheng, 51, denied accepting advantage, misconduct in public office, false accounting and two counts of theft today.
Cheng was alledged of abusing his post as a Legislative Counsellor between 1999 and 2000 in his choice of members to be appointed to the Hong Kong Sports Development Board.
The court also heard he had taken bribes from PA Professional Consultants, a public relations firm.