Head of Legco legal affairs panel plays down calls for debate of government decision not to prosecute former Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying
- Priscilla Leung says Legco members are welcome to ask questions regarding the government’s prosecution policy but no debate is necessary
- Opposition lawmakers have strongly criticised Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng for going on holiday and not arranging to explain the decision
The head of Hong Kong’s legislature’s legal affairs panel has poured cold water on calls from lawmakers to debate the government’s decision to clear former leader Leung Chun-ying of any wrongdoing over a payment he received from an Australian firm. The city’s justice chief has come under mounting pressure to explain her decision.
The panel chairwoman Priscilla Leung Mei-fun said she was not inclined to talk on individual cases but said members could discuss prosecution policy.
She said members of the panel had previously debated whether the government should hire an outside lawyer to give independent advice for cases.
“We discussed it in the past. It is not a necessary process. At that time, we felt the justice minister and officials of the Department of Justice should shoulder responsibility. You shouldn’t outsource it for every case.”
