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Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen may be called to testify in court over a violent demonstration in which he alleges he was hit in the chest.
The possibility was raised by the League of Social Democrats after member Steve Wong Chun-kit, 25, appeared in Kowloon City Court yesterday on one count of acting in a disorderly manner.
Social Democrats  chairman Andrew To Kwan-hang said the league  was talking to Wong's lawyer, Eric Wong Yue-chung, about  summonsing Tsang as a witness.
'The whole incident was about the chief executive who complained of being struck in his chest. It is reasonable for him to stand in the witness box to give evidence,' To said. 
 Wong's lawyer  said he  needed to study the evidence before giving further legal advice to his client but did not rule out summonsing Tsang.
Steve Wong,  a chef, pleaded not guilty before Chief Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen  over the alleged incident at the Science Museum on March 1. The case was adjourned to May 30 for a pre-trial review.
Wong was allowed to extend his cash bail of HK$500.
 Senior public prosecutor Vinci Lam Wing-sai told the magistrate that the prosecution planned to summon seven witnesses including five police officers. But she did not disclose the identities of the remaining two witnesses. 
Both defence and prosecution also told the court they had a video as an exhibit, which would run for about 21/2 minutes. 
The Department of Justice yesterday refused to say if it would call Tsang as a witness while the Chief Executive Office also declined to comment.
Lawmaker-lawyer Paul Tse Wai-chun said he did not see how the chief executive could enjoy immunity from giving evidence.
 'Mr Tsang, if summoned. would be giving evidence in his personal capacity, not in the capacity of chief executive,' Tse said.
'I don't see why he could enjoy any immunity or privilege not to testify, as long as the court finds it proper to do so.'
 Law Society criminal law and procedure committee chairman Stephen Hung Wan-shun agreed with Tse but warned of possible technical barriers for the defence to apply for the summons. 
He said the defence had to persuade the court that the witness could provide 'material evidence' to help the court reach its decision, which would be a hurdle.
A person could also apply to set aside such a summons on the grounds that he would not be able to provide material evidence.
'For the charge of acting in a disorderly manner, the focus is on the defendant's behaviour, not the person who has been affected - that also determines which witnesses should be summoned,' Hung said.



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Donald Tsang

Tsang may be summonsed over violent demo