A new row is looming over the chief executive election after the government revealed yesterday it had consulted Beijing on the total time the next chief executive can serve.
Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung said the government had raised the issue of whether the chief executive elected on July 10 could stand for two more terms after completing the balance of Tung Chee-hwa's tenure.
If this happens, Hong Kong's next leader could serve up to 12 years - more than the 10 years implied by the Basic Law provision that the chief executive can only be elected for two five-year terms.
'We've already raised the issue with the central government,' Mr Lam said.
He also said he had taken note of opinions by mainland legal experts on the issue.
Tsang Hin-chi, a Hong Kong member of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said he would propose the issue for discussion when the committee meets next month.
The comments came as Wang Zhenmin , deputy dean of Tsinghua University's Law School, who earlier suggested a 12-year tenure was possible, said the new chief could only serve for 10 years as stipulated in the Basic Law.