Law Society chief to face no-confidence vote after backing white paper

The Law Society is set to vote on a motion of no confidence in president Ambrose Lam San-keung after critics of his support for Beijing's white paper on Hong Kong mustered at least double the number of signatures needed.

Organiser Kevin Yam said yesterday that the legal profession was "completely ashamed" of Lam, who said on Monday that the white paper - emphasising Beijing's "comprehensive jurisdiction" over Hong Kong - was a "positive document".

"We cannot let the misunderstanding continue that solicitors are only concerned about making money, and aren't bothered about the rule of law, human rights and judicial independence … that's why a group of solicitors decided to stand up," Yam said.

The group, led by Yam, Priscilla Choy Ka-ling and one other, will hand in the signatures this afternoon, calling for a special meeting to table the motion.

Choy said the member-initiated special meeting would be the first of its kind in 20 years.

The white paper, released last week, categorised judges as administrators, like the chief executive and top officials, and said they had a "political requirement" to love the country.