No Need For Me To Seek Court's Opinion: James To

Democrat James To said on Tuesday that he will chair Saturday's meeting of the bills committee on extradition laws and declared that he has no intention of seeking a court's opinion on this as he has been "legitimately elected" to the post.

"Of course, there may be some complications. But I would try my very best to continue the bills committee meeting," To said. "The first thing I must do is to chair the meeting, or attempt to chair the meeting and start the meeting."

"From my side, because I am legitimately elected I have no intention of going to the court to declare the other side illegal or illegitimate," the lawmaker said.

To told RTHK's Janice Wong that if the rival camp has objections, then the Legco secretariat can approach the courts if it is unable to make a decision for itself because it is neutral.

On Monday, it appeared as though two parallel committees were now in operation, one controlled by the pro-democracy camp and the other by pro-establishment lawmakers, with both sides rejecting the other.

The pro-government camp announced that To has been replaced by Abraham Shek to preside over the bills committee and the meeting scheduled for Monday afternoon had been moved to this Saturday.

But the opposition later held a session anyway, saying their rivals' claim was illegal, and elected To as chairman of the panel.

Both camps intend to hold the next meeting of the bills committee at 9am on Saturday.