Editorial | Hong Kong’s new Legislative Council president must strike the right balance
In her new role, Starry Lee needs to lead the council in cooperating with the government while representing the voice of the public
Lee is a safe pair of hands. As head of the House Committee in previous terms, she deputised for the president to chair meetings as needed. After becoming Hong Kong’s sole delegate to the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee in 2023, she stepped down as DAB party leader but continued her Legco duties.
Aware of concerns over her NPC standing committee role and duties, Lee said only four of its meetings would overlap with the Legco schedule each year. She stressed that her Legco work remained her primary focus and that she believed she could help Legco guide the authorities in integrating Hong Kong into the nation’s overall development. The dual roles need not run into conflict when Lee discharges her Legco duties according to the law. She also dismissed concerns that her presidency would lead to “one-party dominance”.
The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office hailed the selection of the Legco president as a success of the “patriots ruling Hong Kong” principle and a demonstration of the effectiveness of the new electoral system. The council will get down to business with a motion debate next week on relief work and reforms in the wake of the Tai Po fire tragedy that killed 161 people in November.
There is a perception among some people that the all-patriots Legco has swung from dysfunctional to little more than a rubber stamp. The Post has stressed the importance of the new Legco chief enhancing public confidence in the new governance approach and maintaining constructive working relations with the executive branch without compromising the duties of the council.