HKMAO Revamp A Standard Government Review: Starry Lee

Hong Kong’s sole delegate to the National People's Congress Standing Committee on Saturday said Beijing's decision to put the SAR's affairs under the direct scrutiny of the Communist Party is part of a general government review and will not affect "One Country, Two Systems".

Starry Lee was commenting on a proposal to turn the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office into a higher-level body that answers to the Communist Party's Central Committee, rather than the State Council.

"The structural review is a normal thing, because this is a new government term. Because we all understand that structure cannot remain the same forever. It should be reviewed from period to period," she told reporters after attending a radio programme.

"When you look at the whole picture of the government structure review, not only the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, it actually includes the financial-related committee and bureau, and also technology and big data-related issues. All these are important issues that I believe the central government would like to improve its management [on]."

But Lee said she wouldn’t speculate on who would be in charge before any announcements: "Whoever takes over this office, I believe will follow the central government's policy towards Hong Kong. That is, they will strongly adhere to the One Country, Two Systems,” she said.

Lee, who has recently been elected as a standing committee member of the country’s top legislature, is also the DAB party chairwoman, a lawmaker, as well as a district councillor.

Without saying how she would juggle her responsibilities, Lee revealed that her party would undergo a restructuring in June.