[JURIST] The Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress ruled Wednesday that under the Hong Kong Basic Law [text] the new leader of Hong Kong to be selected on July 10 will serve out the remaining two years of his predecessor's term and not a brand new 5-year term. The ruling, which follows a draft recommendation made earlier this week, will likely allow Acting Chief Executive Donald Tsang [official profile] to remain in office while China and Hong Kong citizens evaluate his suitability for longer service, although Hong Kong democrats say that a ruling by Hong Kong's own courts in favor of a full-term election would have been more appropriate. The Hong Kong government has posted a news release on the ruling. AP has more.