Lawmakers at COVID-hit party urged to stay home if possible

Sixteen lawmakers at the COVID-hit party were urged to stay at home as much as possible and follow compulsory testing orders, said Hong Kong Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen on Monday.

The 16, who left mandatory quarantine at a public quarantine center on Saturday, were among the 20 lawmakers who attended the Jan 3 birthday party in Wan Chai for Witman Hung Wai-man, a representative for Hong Kong at the Shenzhen Qianhai Authority. The remaining four will continue to be quarantined at Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre.

Speaking to the media, Leung urged involved lawmakers, who will undergo compulsory tests on Jan 10, 15 and 22, to stay home before they are cleared of the virus, as a precaution in light of another guest at the party who tested positive on Sunday.

Noting that the first LegCo meeting on Wednesday will proceed as planned, Leung said the meeting will be conducted either online or offline, meaning that there will not be a hybrid one.

Stressing that lawmakers should be accountable to the public for their behavior and the public has certain expectations of them, Leung said it will be up to the 16 lawmakers to decide whether to attend the meeting.

"I believe they will fully follow the relevant pandemic control rules and fight against the pandemic with the government and the city," said Leung.