HONG KONG: Hong Kong prodemocracy lawmakers made an unprecedented attempt on Wednesday to impeach the city’s embattled China-backed leader, accusing him of breaking housing laws and calling on him to quit.

The 27 pro-democracy lawmakers who signed the city’s first impeachment motion accused Leung Chun-ying of lying, dereliction of duty and serious breaches of the law in a row that stems from illegal structures at his luxury home.

The move, which is unlikely to succeed, follows a protest on New Year’s Day in which tens of thousands took to the streets to urge Leung to quit and to press for greater democracy 15 years after the city returned to Chinese rule.

The former British colony maintains a semi-autonomous status, with its own legal and judicial system, but cannot choose its leader through popular vote.

Leung took office in July after he was picked by a 1,200-strong election committee dominated by pro-Beijing elites, amid rising anger over what many perceive to be China’s meddling in local affairs.

China has said the chief executive could be directly elected in 2017 at the earliest, with the legislature following by 2020.

Unauthorized structures are a politically sensitive issue in the space-starved city of seven million and demonstrators have used the scandal to press for universal suffrage in choosing Hong Kong’s leader.

Leung secured the post after criticizing his rival Henry Tang over illegal structures at Tang’s home.

Maverick lawmaker “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, wearing a T-shirt reading “We topple a tyrant,” presented the impeachment motion to the legislature, accusing the new leader of lying about this own structures during campaigning.

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, second in command in Leung’s administration, urged lawmakers to reject the motion. She said it was unnecessary after the leader survived a no-confidence vote on the same issue.

But Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau told reporters outside the chamber that Leung had “cheated his way to power.”

“This is the first time we have a motion in the legislature to impeach a cheating chief executive,” she said.

Analysts say the motion is unlikely to be passed as the 70-member legislature is dominated by pro-Beijing legislators. The pro-democracy camp controls 27 seats.

If it were passed, the city’s highest court would have to initiate an investigation. At least two-thirds of the legislature would need to endorse a guilty finding before Leung could be removed from office.

Earlier, rival protesters traded barbs outside the legislature and security personnel had to step in at one point when an angry pro-government supporter charged towards the rival group, TV footage showed.

Leung’s popularity ratings have fallen since the controversy, with discontent over issues including sky-high property prices and anti-Beijing sentiment remaining high.