Top court quashes 'Long Hair' appeal over filibuster

The top court took just hours yesterday to put a stop to lawmaker "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung's appeal challenging Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing's abrupt termination of filibustering in 2012.

Leung's application for a judicial review was scheduled for a two-day hearing, starting at 10am in the Court of Final Appeal.

But at about 3pm, the panel of five judges announced the verdict. They had finished listening to the arguments presented by Leung's lawyer, Martin Lee Chu-ming SC, but the defence had yet to make its case.

The panel - comprising Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li, Mr Justice Roberto Ribeiro, Mr Justice Robert Tang Ching, Mr Justice Joseph Fok and Mr Justice Anthony Mason - said it would give detailed reasons later.

Leung, who lost three previous attempts to challenge Tsang's decision, said he was surprised by how little time the panel took to reach a conclusion.

"This is an important matter related to our constitution," he said, adding that the court was being "economical" with justice. "It's bewildering the judges didn't have many questions."

Leung first applied for a judicial review at the Court of First Instance in May 2012, days after Tsang cut short fellow lawmakers Wong Yuk-man and Albert Chan Wai-yip's filibustering plan.