Heung Yee Kuk stagnating and needs new blood, says Leung Tin Tsuen head Junius Ho
Returned village leader among those calling for change to the laws in what some see as renewed bid to remove incumbent chairman
Some Young Turks in rural communities have called for a limit on the number of terms someone can serve as chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk in what is seen as a renewed attempt to remove incumbent Lau Wong-fat, who has been in the job for 35 years.
They claim the kuk - a government-recognised advisory body representing the interests of indigenous villagers in the New Territories - risks becoming irrelevant if new blood is not pumped into its leadership.
"To serve its function as an advisory body [on rural affairs], the kuk needs new blood to keep it refreshed. I would say now it is pretty stagnant," said Junius Ho Kwan-yiu, who was returned uncontested as Leung Tin Tsuen village head in last month's representative elections.
"Is it not strange? There is not a limit on the number of terms the kuk chairman can serve. Now it is just like a lifelong thing," said Ho.
Lau, 78, nicknamed "King of the New Territories", has been the indigenous head of Lung Kwu Tan village in Tuen Mun for about half a century and was head of the Tuen Mun Rural Committee for about 40 years - until 2011.
He became a vice-chairman of the kuk in 1978 and has been its chairman since 1980.