Hong Kong Chief Executive Lee Ka-chiu meets with members of the media at the Central Government Office on July 5, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday he will seek the opinions of the Executive Council, which comprises experts of rich experience from diverse backgrounds, in the government’s decision making.

Lee made the pledge during his first meeting with the Executive Council, Hong Kong’s de facto Cabinet.

Lee said he had asked Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau to review anti-COVID strategies and also explore the possibility of reducing the quarantine period to reduce inconvenience for visitors

Lee said to reporters before the weekly meeting that the council’s opinions are quite helpful to the city’s administration, adding he will consult council members before making vital decisions, submitting bills to the Legislative Council, and enacting subsidiary legislation as required by the Basic Law.

Lee said that all 16 non-official council members have rich experience. Noting that Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, the council’s convener, is familiar with government operations and cares about the community, he said he believes Ip can effectively perform her duties.

ALSO READ: Lee: Mainland, SAR discussing limited quarantine-free travel

Ip, who talked to reporters with Lee, said the council had already began work on Monday. With professionals from various backgrounds, the council will try its best to provide constructive suggestions to Lee in the next five years, she said.

Besides the collaboration with the council, Lee also mentioned some priorities of the newly formed government team.

Hong Kong recorded 1,841 new COVID-19 cases on Monday. From June 29 to July 2, the city had recorded four consecutive days of over 2,000 confirmed cases.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Lee Ka-chiu (left) and Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, convenor of the Executive Council, meet with reporters at Central Government Office on July 5, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Lee said that although the pandemic showed signs of a resurgence and it must be firmly controlled, the city still needs to make preparations for a gradual opening and recovering tourism.

To balance the demands, Lee said he had asked Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau to review anti-COVID strategies and also explore the possibility of reducing the quarantine period to reduce inconvenience for visitors.

To balance the demands, CE John Lee said he had asked Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau to review anti-COVID strategies and also explore the possibility of reducing the quarantine period to reduce inconvenience for visitors

"I'm giving him time to look at the statistics so that he will formulate some options that we may consider," Lee said.

Lo said on Monday he hoped the border with Shenzhen would reopen before Aug 4. 

READ MORE: No one is better suited than John Lee to lead the city

In terms of housing problems, Lee said he had set up two groups to deal with public housing issues, and one of them will submit a report in the first 100 days of his assuming office.

Lee also mentioned that the legislation of Article 23 is a constitutional responsibility and will be enacted as soon as possible.

Lee said he and the Executive Council members will deal with the issue thoughtfully and prudently so that the law can stress all the expected problems without any further amendments in the future.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Lee Ka-chiu (front, center) poses for a group photo with members of the Executive Council at the Central Government Office on July 5, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)