John Lee Praises 'highly Efficient' Legco

Chief Secretary John Lee has praised the Legislative Council for its “high efficiency” in scrutinising government bills.

On an RTHK programme, he said Legco moved on from its “destructive age” to pass 46 bills in the past year, more than double the average number in previous years. Lawmakers approved some HK$320 billion in funding, he added.

Lee said in contrast to today's highly efficient Legco, the legislature was “paralysed” in the past and this undermined one country, two systems.

The opposition camp in the legislature resigned en masse a year ago, after the government announced it had disqualified another four of their number.

The official, who heads a vetting committee responsible for screening Legco election candidates, said the principle for deciding who is eligible to stand in a poll is clear, and that is that they must genuinely uphold the Basic Law and be loyal to the SAR.

He said the committee will look at what would-be candidates have said, written, or done in the past, and whether they have taken part in any behaviour included on a "negative list".