Hong Kong lawmaker-elect Junius Ho calls for reform of Heung Yee Kuk
Rural leader calls for cap on number of terms a representative can serve kuk, including New Territories justices of the peace such as himself
Ho, 54, who himself became a kuk ex-officio member in July because of his appointment as a New Territories Justice of the Peace, said as a first step kuk membership by such justices should not be lifelong.
But the leader of Leung Tin Tsuen village in Tuen Mun argued that such minor defects should not be blown out of proportion by kuk critics.
Chu made overhauling the kuk a major theme of his election campaign. He blamed the kuk, which represents the interests of indigenous villagers, for being the source of many New Territories problems. He said there was a possible loophole for the government to intervene in rural affairs by appointing New Territories Justices of the Peace.
“I have no problem with capping the number of terms a Justice of the Peace can serve the kuk,” Ho said. “We rural people are open-minded. There is no reform that is not negotiable. But we should do it in the proper way.”