CE To Meet Lawmakers In New Interactive Sessions

Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday said he will hold new interactive and consultative exchange sessions with lawmakers to help tackle important issues together and set policymaking priorities.

The first of the new meetings will be held on May 18 and will focus on the 20th National Congress and the "Two Sessions".

"There can be more we can do to allow patriots administering Hong Kong to realise even stronger potentials and create stronger values," Lee told reporters ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting.

"The last experience in the [Greater Bay Area] visit indicates that patriots can unite together to do things with a common purpose, and the common purpose is very clear for patriots, which is that we will try to make good policies and measures that will be creating positive values for Hong Kong, whether it's for economic development or building a liveable city."

The CE said the new, televised meetings will bring together the advantages of the existing chief executive question-and-answer sessions, motion debates, and policy address consultations.

"Combining all these three advantages in a Q&A session will create extra value, because it is a good use of time. The opportunity is also very important and useful if we decide on a good subject that is of vital importance to Hong Kong, because obviously there are a lot of questions that the government wants to (handle) to improve the situation," he said.

"The proposal I'm making now will be able to assist me to set priorities with constructive views from Legco members."

Lawmakers will be able to ask questions and make comments during the sessions, Lee said, adding that he would also answer queries on matters that are not on the agenda.