Beijing's interpretation of the Basic Law on April 27 is likely to trigger massive street protests in Hong Kong.

The interpretation will rule that the next chief executive serve out only the remaining two years of his predecessor's term, instead of the five years stated in Article 46 of the territory's mini-constitution.

Such a ruling by the National People's Congress Standing Committee appears almost certain to trigger demonstrations ahead of the 800-person Election Committee's meeting to choose the next chief executive on July 10.

Two protests have already been called - for April 19 and July 1.

Acting Chief Executive Donald Tsang appears certain to be elected to replace Tung Chee-hwa who stepped down last month.

In an effort to court local opinion, three top Beijing officials are expected to sound out local lawyers and the Election Committee on their views.

The consultations are to pave the way for a two-year term ruling.

This would repeat a consultative exercise Beijing adopted last April before ultimately ruling out universal suffrage for 2007-08 through a Basic Law interpretation.

However, organizers of two historic July 1 demonstrations that brought half a million protesters into the streets in 2003 and 2004 say they plan another rally this July 1 to protest against the planned interpretation.

The Civil Human Rights Front said it will discuss the protest plan today with the democratic camp in the hope that it can rally thousands of people to come out onto the city's streets.

Separately, representatives of Hong Kong's Bar, headed by the Article 45 Concern Group, said they will stage a demonstration on April 19 against the government's decision to seek Beijing's interpretation of Hong Kong's mini-constitution.

A Department of Justice spokesman confirmed Thursday that the Liaison Office had arranged to meet four barristers of the Article 45 Concern Group, the Bar Association and Law Society of Hong Kong in Kylin Villa, Shenzhen next Tuesday.

Qiao Xiaoyang, the deputy secretary general of the NPCSC; Li Fei, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPCSC; and Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, will consult the legal sector.

Qiao, who once said interpretations should be regarded as a ``common thing,'' is the official charged with explaining the Standing Committee's interpretation decisions to Hong Kong's representatives.

Last year Qiao personally lectured officials, the public and the media on the decision to rebuff demands for full democracy.

The trio will then consult local deputies to the National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as well as the Election Committee in meetings in Shenzhen for April 21 and 22.

They must then fly back to Beijing to consult the 12-member Basic Law Committee, a necessary step before the Standing Committee can put the interpretation on its agenda for the committee's April 27 bi-monthly meeting.

At that point, the committee will vote on the interpretation and deliver a ruling.

The Bar Association and Law Society of Hong Kong confirmed they received invitations to the consultations. The Bar Association will send 15 representatives to Shenzhen.

No government officials will attend the session.

Article 45 Concern Group lawmaker Ronny Tong said he will convey to Qiao the public's concerns over the interpretation, as well as its impact on Hong Kong's rule of law and its independence.

``I will also suggest setting up a permanent mechanism to handle issues and problems arising from the implementation of the Basic Law,'' Tong said.

But his colleague, Audrey Eu, said she doubts the meeting will be very meaningful. ``It is just a show to pacify the local legal sector,'' she said.

``For myself, calling for a two-hour meeting and photo-call session after the government decides to seek the interpretation will not cultivate a good relationship between both parties.''

michael.ng@singtaonewscorp.com

cannix.yau@singtaonewscorp.com

carrie.chan2@singtaonewscorp.com