Session encourages warmer, broader ties for consensus and governance
An innovative dialogue session held on Tuesday morning between Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and legislators was hailed as a warmer and broader platform for the executive and legislative branches to build a deeper consensus for better governance.
Sixty-seven Legislative Council members, out of a total of 90, attended the 90-minute session, discussing topics ranging from the economy and livelihoods to social development.
They shared with Lee their experiences and insights gained from a recent weeklong study tour of Beijing, which featured high-level seminars and visits to central government agencies, enterprises and cultural districts, showcasing the nation’s progress.
ALSO READ: Xia meets HKSAR lawmakers during their Beijing study trip
Lee outlined the key objectives of the dialogue: enhancing mutual understanding and building a consensus between the executive and legislature; creating new value for the “patriots administering Hong Kong” principle; and sharing experiences to foster reforms.
He said he has always placed a high priority on executive-legislative relations and has stepped up communication through various channels since taking office in 2022, including the introduction of the LegCo Ante Chamber Exchange Sessions — a regular exchange of ideas between legislators and senior government officials.
Lee said the latest dialogue mechanism provides a calm and cordial setting for direct communication, free from procedural constraints, and allowing both sides to “engage in a warm, in-depth dialogue and exchange ideas as teammates”.
LegCo President Starry Lee Wai-king described the session as a sincere and warm exchange in a relaxed, candid atmosphere. She said she and other legislators felt the sustained commitment of the chief executive and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government toward strengthening executive-legislative ties, as well as ongoing interaction between the two sides.
She said LegCo delegation’s study tour of Beijing was highly productive, with many members sharing insights during the trip, especially on Hong Kong’s alignment with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis, and improving livelihoods.
Lawmakers also discussed ideas inspired by the trip with the chief executive, according to Starry Lee.
Lawmaker Ronick Chan Chun-ying said that during the Beijing study visit, he found that the capital’s 12345 citizen hotline service coordinates all local government departments to jointly address public inquiries, with clear targets and follow-up procedures to ensure issues are thoroughly resolved. In comparison, Hong Kong’s 1823 hotline mainly functions as a referral channel, Chan said.
READ MORE: Beijing tour deepens HKSAR lawmakers' understanding of nation
He said lawmakers are exploring ways to optimize the local hotline’s operation and will compile their insights and discussion outcomes into reference materials for the SAR government.
Lawmaker Rebecca Chan Hoi-yan called the dialogue engaging and sincere. She said lawmakers should serve as a bridge between the public and the government, faithfully conveying residents’ views.
She also advocated for specific legislative work to ensure comprehensive feedback is gathered from various sectors and to give legislators ample room for deliberation.
She added that the chief executive pledged to allow more time for communication with lawmakers before introducing bills or amendments.
Contact the writer at gangwen@chinadailyhk.com
