Towards solving Hong Kong’s problems: The Legislative Council hails a good start
3 January 2022
Following a fair, open and impartial election of the Seventh Legislative Council (LegCo) held under the improved electoral system, the current legislative session commenced in January this year with its 90 Members taking the oath of office administered by the Chief Executive this morning (January 3). I congratulate Members on assuming their office in accordance with the law, LegCo on making a good start, and Hong Kong itself on entering an era of good governance and smooth administration.
I am pleased that today’s oath-taking went smoothly according to the rundown. At the beginning of the ceremony, all Members stood solemnly facing the national flag and the regional flag, while the national anthem was played and sung. One by one, Members proceeded to the lectern to take the oath which reads “I swear that, being a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, I will uphold the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and serve the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conscientiously, dutifully, in full accordance with the law, honestly and with integrity.”
The Chief Executive and I have separately written to congratulate Members on being elected to the new-term LegCo. All Members have been invited to attend a welcoming tea gathering hosted by the Chief Executive at the Government House on January 6, as well as a welcoming luncheon held by me at the Central Government Offices on January 11. The two occasions will bring together LegCo Members, principal officials and departmental representatives to enhance mutual understanding and exchange views on social issues of common concern.
The political system of the HKSAR is an executive-led structure under the core leadership of the Chief Executive. According to the constitutional order of Hong Kong as prescribed in the Basic Law, the executive authorities and the legislature perform their respective functions and complement each other with built-in checks and balances. I look forward to the constructive interaction and close connection between the Government and the new-term LegCo, through which a better culture of policy discussion and the ensuing efficacy of the legislature can be displayed. Under the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, LegCo Members will shoulder the important responsibility of the governance of Hong Kong in partnership with the HKSAR Government in the four years ahead. Attaching great importance to the relationship between the executive authorities and the legislature, the Government will actively facilitate LegCo in fulfilling its functions, including the scrutiny of bills and the examination of funding proposals.
With the President soon to be elected, the first meeting of the Seventh LegCo will be held on January 12. The executive authorities will communicate, co-operate and collaborate with LegCo in various aspects. The Chief Executive will attend the Question and Answer Sessions of LegCo to answer Members’ questions. As the Chief Secretary for Administration, I will hold regular meetings with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the House Committee to consult and listen to their views. Secretaries of Departments, Directors of Bureaux, Under Secretaries and senior civil servants will actively liaise and communicate with Members on proposals regarding government policies, legislation, funding, etc. Political Assistants will also maintain close contact and enhance interaction with Members and their assistants.
The Government will submit the legislative proposals for the year, including those mentioned by the Chief Executive in the 2021 Policy Address, to the Chairman of the House Committee within this month. Besides, various bureaux will brief LegCo Panels on the key points of the 2021 Policy Address in February.
Hong Kong has emerged from an era of destruction into an era of construction. Members of the public have high expectations for the future, including a constructive executive-legislature relationship, higher governance efficacy and better policy discussion and scrutiny by LegCo Members. The executive authorities and the legislature should, with the well-being of the public in mind, work together to unite all sectors of the community, resolve society’s problems and build a bright future for Hong Kong.
