'Lawmakers In Same Team As Officials They Monitor'

Legislative Council President Andrew Leung said on Friday that lawmakers are in the same team as government officials, but councillors are not simply "rubber stamping" everything put before them.

He made the comment while summarising the legislature's work over the past year, adding that things are back on the right track with a calm and rational council as patriots administer Hong Kong.

Leung said lawmakers are trying their best to monitor the government and they do so in a more positive manner now, because the past was full of "destructive, damaging monitoring", including filibusters and attempts to force meeting adjournments.

If those past parliamentary tactics are considered to be monitoring the government, then there might as well be no monitoring at all, the president said.

Leung said antechamber meetings introduced by Chief Executive John Lee have allowed officials to be more down-to-earth in formulating policies, as they can first listen to the views of lawmakers representing different sectors.

"The legislators are not playing against the government, likewise the government [officials] are not seeing legislators as the enemy. We are the same team," Leung said.

"We need to work together to make sure the legislative process is smooth. Smooth doesn't mean rubber stamp."

Leung said there are now fewer media reports about the legislature in general, and this may have contributed to the public being less concerned about the council's business.

He said journalists shouldn't just focus on "juicy" matters but also find news at bills committee or panel meetings, so that the public can better appreciate how lawmakers work diligently.

"The media need to report not only those interesting subjects, but you need to report the actual work of the members," Leung said.

"It may not be eye-catching, but it's practical for the people of Hong Kong, for the well-being of the people."

The president stressed that councillors are working for the public good, rather than for their own ends.