CE seeks lawmakers' views on resumption of LegCo operation

HONG KONG - Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Wednesday met with the pro-establishment Legislative Council (LegCo) members from various political groups to listen to their views on the resumption of the LegCo's operation.

Lam expressed gratitude for the understanding and support of the pro-establishment legislators for the HKSAR government's postponement of the LegCo general election for a year due to the severe epidemic situation.

The lawmakers also met Lam to propose measures to control the epidemic, a day after the Standing Committee of National People's Congress decided to extend the term of all legislators by no less than a year.

Lam was pleased to note that all the lawmakers shared the view that the most imminent task is for the whole community to fight the epidemic together.

On the plight of various sectors amid the epidemic mentioned by various legislators, Lam said the government will definitely do its utmost to support the enterprises and members of the public.

During the meeting, Hong Kong lawmakers urged the HKSAR government to spare no effort in containing the COVID-19 pandemic, so that the city can revive its economy and resume normal communication with neighboring areas.

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the largest party in the legislature, suggested that the government should launch a new round of funding as soon as possible to cater to the self-employed and other sectors who were not covered by previous funds.

The party also suggested that the Hong Kong government should discuss with its Guangdong and Macao counterparts how to introduce a mutually acceptable digital health code system, so that Hong Kong residents can resume travel to those two places after the pandemic is brought under control. The DAB also advised the government to consider covering or subsidizing the testing fee to reduce the burden on the public.

Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, vice chairman of Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, said a citywide health code system will help business operators detect people's health in public places and reduce the risk of further virus transmissions.

Citing the rising unemployment rate during the pandemic, Aron Kwok Wai-keung, a lawmaker for the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, said LegCo should "efficiently approve some public construction projects to create more jobs".

Meanwhile, DAB chairwoman Starry Lee Wai-king called on the opposition not to blindly boycott LegCo meetings or disrupt the body's operation as they have done over the past year. She noted that opposition lawmakers run for election with an intention to serve in the legislature so they should use the year to earnestly discharge their duties.