Hong Kong government fails to block localist duo from retaking Legco oaths, but wins right to seek judicial review

Hearing on application for judicial review will take place on November 3 in a case that will seek to invalidate the Legco status of Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching

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Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching of Youngspiration meet the media outside the High Court. Photo: David Wong

Stuart Lau,Eddie Lee,Joyce Ng,Owen FungandChris Lau

Published: 7:00pm, 18 Oct 2016Updated: 11:01am, 30 Nov 2016

Declaring full-frontal war on Tuesday night, the Hong Kong government took the unprecedented step of mounting a legal challenge to disqualify two pro-independence lawmakers on grounds that they had contravened the Basic Law during their swearing-in last week.

In a last-minute bid, the administration sought but failed to obtain an interim injunction to bar Youngspiration pair Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching from retaking their oaths on Wednesday morning at 11am.

Watch: pro-independence lawmakers battle Hong Kong leader in court

But Mr Justice Thomas Au Hing-cheung did allow an application for a judicial review against Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen’s decision over the retaking of the oaths.

The hearing on the application has been set for November 3.

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and Justice Secretary Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung had mounted the legal battle against the duo. Swept up in the case is the Legco president, who had earlier in the day indicated he would allow the two to retake their oaths on Wednesday.