Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu holds up booklets of the 2023 Policy Address during a press briefing in Hong Kong on Wednesday. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Hong Kong lawmakers called for action to translate Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s Policy Address initiatives into realistic efforts when passing a motion of thanks for the blueprint on Friday, wrapping up over 20 hours of debate spanning three days.

On Oct 25, Lee spent over three hours delivering his second Policy Address, in which 108 pages covered policy initiatives in areas such as housing, population, education, industry development and infrastructure.

In a speech at LegCo on Friday, the last day of the debate, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki thanked legislators for their support of the Policy Address

Lee expressed his gratitude to the Legislative Council for passing the motion of thanks as well as offering their views on various measures in the Policy Address during the debate.

READ MORE: Q&A: Five biggest questions about Policy Address

In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, the chief executive said the policy measures included in the address were formulated after careful consideration to benefit various sectors. “It is a Policy Address for each and every one of us,” Lee noted.

He reaffirmed that his team will continue to strengthen exchanges and coordination with LegCo, bringing the executive-legislative relationship to the next level and creating greater value and power for “patriots administering Hong Kong”. 

In a speech at LegCo on Friday, the last day of the debate, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki thanked legislators for their support of the Policy Address. He promised that the Special Administrative Region government would follow up all the suggestions on administration raised by lawmakers.

Legislator Starry Lee Wai-king said she hopes that the chief executive and other government officials continue to collect views from various sectors, ensuring that policies meet the public’s needs.

READ MORE: A Policy Address for each and every one

She also urged the SAR government to implement new policy initiatives as soon as possible so as to benefit the general public.

As a traditional practice of LegCo, a nonbinding motion of thanks for the Policy Address was moved at a meeting on Wednesday, and lawmakers began to debate it in four sessions of 50 to 70 minutes, respectively.

From Wednesday to Friday, over 20 government officials introduced new policies in their spheres of responsibility, and 88 lawmakers expressed their support for the Policy Address, and proposed suggestions in governance, education, economy and livelihood issues.