Retired judge Woo Kwok-hing first to officially throw hat in the ring for Hong Kong’s 2017 chief executive election

A high-profile retired judge will on Thursday become the first person to formally declare their intention to run in the race to become the next leader of Hong Kong.

Woo Kwok-hing, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission from 1993 to 2006 and former vice-president of the Court of Appeal, will announce details of his bid to become chief executive – a move described by one senior legal figure as “brave”.

The 70-year-old, who was also the city’s first interception of communications and surveillance watchdog and has headed a series of high-profile commissions of ­inquiry, is understood to have ­decided to run because he feels the city has become riven with ­division under the incumbent leader, Leung Chun-ying.

Outside his election headquarters in the Lucky Building in Central last night, Woo declined to elaborate on his bid. However, it is understood low-profile ­barrister Ho Bing-kwan will be a core member of his team for the March 26 election.

It also emerged on Wednesday that as well as meeting lawmakers from the Democratic and Liberal parties in recent days, Woo has held discussions with former Civic Party legislator Ronny Tong Ka-wah.