Televised session where Hong Kong’s John Lee takes questions from lawmakers to be revamped to focus on specific policies, ‘unleash potential of patriots’
- Chief Executive John Lee says first meeting to focus on national development, and it won’t be compulsory for legislators to pose questions
- He says such talks will be regarded as new channel to gauge views on annual policy blueprint, while voicing hope for greater legislative-executive ties
A regular televised session in which Hong Kong’s leader takes questions from lawmakers will be revamped into an “interactive exchange” focusing on policies of “vital importance”, with the first one next week centred on integration into national development.
“Council members can put questions to the chief executive or just express their views on specific issues … The chief executive can also consult members for their opinions,” Lee said, adding that Legco president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen had endorsed his idea.
While lawmakers generally welcomed the revamp, one said he was against the idea of the government setting the agenda for each session.
Lee said it would be an “interactive, consultative” exchange that aimed to “further unleash the potential of patriots” and help authorities reach a consensus with legislators on key policies.
“The session will help us come up with policy priorities … so residents can benefit the most from our governance.”