Legislators, what’s next please? It is logical and sensible for the National People’s Congress to confirm the extension of the incumbent Legislative Council for at least another year. However, Hong Kong did not see much progress made by Legco in 2019-20. How many times were meetings interrupted by the unacceptable behaviour of council members yelling, hurling objects , filibustering, or engaging in other deliberate acts aimed at scuttling the proceedings? It is high time that we, the Hong Kong public and taxpayers, who fund the paychecks of our legislators, make some demands. First, that all legislators take a pay cut of at least 30 per cent for their non-performance, non-participation or simply absence from meetings during 2019-20. Second, that all legislators make good the time lost in 2019-20, without pay, this time doing their jobs properly by sitting down to discuss issues in a responsible, adult manner in the meeting rooms. Third, for o nce, legislators must put livelihoods before politics. We need matters discussed and approved so we can make progress. We are never going to live in a perfect world, and we can stomach some mistakes rather than a situation in which no progress is made. Decent legislators would agree to disagree. Livelihood issues must come first. Look at Macau , look at Zhuhai, look at Shenzhen . Our neighbours are moving forward, embracing change and developing well. Soon, other cities in the Greater Bay Area will also rise. Hong Kong cannot afford to lose another year. Pan-democrat legislators, please open your eyes and minds. Walk across the border and you will see how much your idealism has stopped Hong Kong from advancing. Democracy cannot feed people, only economic advancement will. When you go without pay, you will then be able to really feel what the public are experiencing now, in the very severe economic downturn and increasing unemployment rate. Social progress can only be made when we work together, not against one another. The next time you decide to block a government proposal to better livelihoods, please ask yourself, if you have anything better to offer. If you do, please do offer it. Otherwise, please think twice before you vote it down. Lusan Hung, Wan Chai