Potential push for pro-democracy counsel to land judge-vetting role

Bar Association chairman Paul Harris is expected to break the tradition of becoming a member of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission when his term ends in January.

Instead, the 68-year-old Harris is likely to recommend pro-democracy senior counsel Neville Sarony for the commission, according to The Standard's sister newspaper Sing Tao Daily. That is despite the position usually going to an immediate past chairman.

The move to recommend Sarony has raised eyebrows as he has been writing commentaries critical of Beijing, so that raises concerns about a controversy.

According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong judges should be appointed by the chief executive upon recommendations by the commission, which is chaired by the chief justice and comprises the secretary for justice, two judges, a barrister, a solicitor and three independent people from outside the legal sector.

Meanwhile, candidates from the "liberal" camp may stand a greater chance of winning a key Law Society election today if the turnout is high, a member familiar with the situation told The Standard.

The election could set the society's course as the five longest-serving council members will be replaced by five new ones in the 20-strong governing council.

The member said majority of 12,000 members are likely to be pro-democrats.

"There are a lot of new members that have been admitted into the Law Society and the majority of them are younger in terms of their post-qualification experience and age," the source said.

"Therefore, you already know what 'color' camp they belong to. Think of it this way: if the society was under control then no warning would have been made."

That was a reference to Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's warning that the administration will cut ties with the society if it lets politics override professionalism.

Despite Lam's remarks - seen as a warning against members voting for candidates regarded as pro-democratic - the member said supporters of the "liberal" camp have no intention of backing down.

The results of the election will depend on the extent of the implementation of the national security law in June last year and how the closure of multiple pro-democracy organizations has affected members' desire to vote and their voting plans, he said.

"I do not think the voting turnout will be low, as many of my friends and myself will be voting. "Some told me they are not afraid, as there is no [other way] to air their views and discontent."

Eleven hopefuls - five "professionals" or establishment backers, four "liberals" and two "centrists" - are vying for the five seats.

One "liberal" member seeking reelection, Jonathan Ross, has said he is withdrawing his candidacy after being intimidated.

But the society does not have a withdrawal mechanism for candidates.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com