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

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

Former vice-president of the Court of Appeal will roll out campaign plan on Thursday

PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 26 October, 2016

A retired judge who formerly headed a number of high-profile government-appointed commissions has become the first publicly-declared candidate for next year’s chief executive election.

Woo Kwok-hing, the former vice-president of the Court of Appeal, will lay out his plan for running for Hong Kong’s top job at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

The 70-year-old met several lawmakers from the Democratic Party and Liberal Party as well as former legislator Ronny Tong Ka-wah in recent days to discuss his candidacy.

Woo also met former lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan and Cyd Ho Sau-lan on Wednesday afternoon.

Woo is the second judge to make a run for chief executive. In 1996, then chief justice Yang Ti-liang ran in the first chief executive election in which he eventually lost to Tung Chee-hwa.

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Woo became a barrister in 1969 and was named a High Court judge in 1992. He was chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission from 1993 to 2006, and then served as the commissioner on interception of communications and surveillance until 2012.

He retired from the judiciary in 2011.

In 1996 he acted as commissioner of the inquiry into the Garley Building fire in which 41 people died. He also served as chairman of the commission of inquiry into the chaotic opening of Chek Lap Kok airport in 1998 and 1999.

Bar Association chairwoman Winnie Tam Wan-chi said she could not say whether she would support Woo before his election platform was rolled out.

“I think he’s very brave as it is a hot potato,” Tam said. “I have no reason not to have confidence in his [willingness] to safeguard Hong Kong’s rule of law as it is a duty not just for chief executive contenders but every lawyer in general.”

Executive Council member Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, a potential candidate for chief executive, said it was good to see the retired judge expressing an interest in running in the election, which will take place on March 26 next year.

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An aspirant to lead the city is required to secure the nominations of at least 150 members of the 1,200-strong Election Committee which selects the chief executive.

“Mr Justice Woo is a well-respected judge of considerable standing,” Ip said. “If he decides to run for chief executive, this says something about Hongkongers’ will and hope for a fair competition for the top job.”

Asked about Woo’s bid, a High Court judge who spoke on condition of anonymity described him as someone who “speaks his mind”.

“He was the darling of the press when he was heading the election commission,” the judge said. “But I don’t understand why he has to weigh in. Yang Ti-liang tried before and failed.”