Update | EXCO's HKTV talks are confidential says Leung Chun-Ying, as his popularity plummets
The legal action has been dropped, yet the chief executive is keeping quiet - as a record six out of 10 people say they have no confidence in him
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has refused to detail the reasons behind a controversial free-television licensing decision, although the government is no longer bound by any judicial process to hold back its explanation.
The administration has said that looming legal action and the Executive Council's confidentiality rule meant it could not reveal why Ricky Wong Wai-kay's company failed in its licence bid, while two other firms succeeded.
The impact of that decision - which led tens of thousands of people to protest outside government headquarters in Admiralty last week - could be behind Leung's popularity plunge in the latest poll. With a record six out of 10 respondents casting a vote of no confidence in the chief executive, University of Hong Kong pollsters warned he might be slipping into a credibility crisis.
Yesterday, Leung said: "The government made the decision according to the laws, policies and procedure. It will be the same regardless of any judicial review … If there is one, the court will hear our arguments.
"The Executive Council's confidentiality rule and collective responsibility are long established and must be upheld."
He said Exco had considered "four principles" and "11 factors", without elaborating.
On Monday, Phillip Li Koi-hop, of political fringe group the People's Opposition Party, withdrew his application for a judicial review of the decision, in a bid to force the government to explain.
