HK leaders: Legislature extension necessary

Hong Kong leaders and political heavyweights said the arrangement for the current term legislature to stay on for more than a year is the least costly way to enable the city to concentrate on the daunting challenges of containing the pandemic and reviving the economy.

They called on Hong Kong society, especially the opposition camp, to join in an all-out effort to contain the pandemic, revive the city's economy and improve people's lives in the new LegCo session.

The arrangement came in a decision by the nation's top legislature to avoid a hiatus in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong caused by the deferral of the LegCo election for a year to Sept 5, 2021. The sixth-term LegCo will continue to discharge its duties for no less than one year until the swearing-in of their successors.

After meeting pro-establishment lawmakers on Wednesday, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said in a statement that the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Tuesday provides a constitutional basis and solid legal foundation for the normal governance of the HKSAR government and the normal operation of society.

"The authority and necessity of the decision are beyond doubt," Lam said.

She and other government officials listened to lawmakers' opinions on the public policies to cope with the pandemic and the economic recession.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still raging in Hong Kong, with 69 new cases recorded on Thursday, bringing the tally to 4,312, with 65 deaths so far.

Lam said she was delighted to see that the legislators shared her view that the most imminent task is for the whole community to fight the epidemic together.

Starry Lee Wai-king, one of the lawmakers attending the meeting, called on the opposition not to blindly boycott LegCo meetings or disrupt the body's operation as they have done over the past year. She noted that opposition lawmakers run for election with an intention to serve in the legislature, so they should use the year to earnestly discharge their duties.

In 2019-20, the election of the House Committee chairman was filibustered by opposition lawmakers for seven months.

Chan Kin-por, chairman of the LegCo Finance Committee, also called on lawmakers to cherish the opportunity and work wholeheartedly upon their return to the legislature for the well-being of society by helping fight COVID-19 and revive the economy.

Chan said the decision is "the least controversial arrangement that presents a better public perception. It shows the NPC Standing Committee truly respects the relevant Hong Kong legislation to resolve the problem according to 'one country, two systems', without setting up a 'provisional' or 'caretaker' legislature," he added.

Solicitor Kennedy Wong Ying-ho agreed. The decision fully demonstrated the central government's faith in Hong Kong having a high degree of autonomy, as it leaves decisions, such as whether lawmakers are required to swear an oath again in the upcoming term, to the HKSAR government, Wong said.

Lawmaker and barrister Priscilla Leung Mei-fun told China Daily that the decision is constitutional and legitimate, adding that it has taken a "gentle" approach to this issue in the hope that Hong Kong will have a chance to calm down from its political discord.

The lawmakers suggested that the SAR launch a new round of funding as soon as possible to cater to the self-employed and other sectors that were not covered by previous funds.

They also suggested that the Hong Kong government discuss with its Guangdong and Macao counterparts how to introduce a mutually acceptable digital health code system so that Hong Kong residents can resume travel to those two places after the pandemic is brought under control.