Alan Leong Advises Against Legco Boycott

Civic Party chairman Alan Leong says pan-democrats should not boycott the extended session of the Legislative Council, as it is vital for the camp to monitor the government.

Leong said on Saturday that it would be “weird” if pro-democracy lawmakers chose to leave the legislature when they had the chance to stay and reflect people’s views.

Some in the camp have suggested a boycott of the legislature, which they believe lacks constitutional rigour.

“You need only to think back to what happened last year, when the Carrie Lam administration was trying to bulldoze through the Legislative Council this fugitive offender’s amendment bill,” Leong said.

“Can you imagine all 22 pan-dem legislators had not been there? The bill would already have been passed.”

Leong said if the administration is determined to do “bad things”, then at least legislators would be present to “make sure that they will do it within the purview of the public.”

Separately, Maria Tam, vice-chairwoman of the Basic Law Committee, said she believed pan-democratic lawmakers would return to the legislature as it would not be easy for them to give up on their work over the past four years.

She said if the camp did decide against boycotting the extended Legco session, they should help solve Hong Kong’s problems.

She added that the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress had made the most reasonable decision in extending the current term, because people would not accept appointing lawmakers in a provisional Legco.