[JURIST] Hong Kong democratic legislator Albert Chan announced Thursday that he will head a legal challenge against the government's plan to shorten the term of the territory's next chief executive from five years to two. In the wake of the March 10 resignation of chief executive Tung Chee-hwa [official site], the Beijing-backed Hong Kong government says that Chee-hwa's successor would serve out his remaining two years in office rather than serve five years as mandated under Hong Kong's constitution-like Basic Law [full text; official site]. Chan, supported by 24 other pro-democracy lawmakers, fears the government's action damages the "One Country, Two Systems" principle that ensures Hong Kong's autonomy. A constitutional challenge in the form of legal action, however, could hamper July plans for the city's electoral college of 800 Beijing loyalists to select the next leader. AFP has more.