'Q&A Plan Shows CE Values Exchanges With Lawmakers'

Legco president Andrew Leung on Tuesday said the decision by Chief Executive John Lee to attend interactive and consultative question-and-answer sessions in Legco shows he attaches great importance to exchanges with lawmakers.

Leung added that legislators will properly play their roles as spokespersons of public opinion to gauge people's sentiments and put forward recommendations to the government.

In the past, chief executives attended several Legco question-and-answer sessions per year, with each lasting around 90 minutes.

DAB chairwoman Starry Lee said the new interactive and consultative version announced by Lee will be an "upgrade", and she would like the sessions to last half an hour longer.

"As there are now more members at Legco, it is not easy to get an opportunity to ask questions or express opinions to the chief executive," she said.

Election Committee lawmaker Doreen Kong said holding the televised exchanges will strengthen communication with the public.

"I hope we can set three or four topics of discussions, so that the chief executive and lawmakers can raise what people are most concerned about on certain issues," Kong said.

"If the session is held every three months, people might not be pleased. I think we are now facing many problems, and I hope these Q&A sessions can be held at least once per month."

Legislator Tik Chi-yuen, meanwhile, said there should be a three-minute limit for each lawmaker to ask questions and the chief executive to respond, to allow for more exchanges.

Tik added that while he didn't mind having specific topics for each Q&A session, lawmakers should not be restricted from discussing matters they care about.