Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Thursday that he believes the Legislative Council (LegCo)’s upcoming term will maintain the momentum of the current term, uphold “patriots administering Hong Kong”, and advance executive-led governance through constructive exchanges and collaboration with the special administrative region government.

On Thursday, the government held a seminar chaired by Lee on executive-legislative collaboration for effective governance and Hong Kong’s future improvement.

The LegCo election, scheduled for Dec 7, will return 90 lawmakers in the new-term legislature, with its nomination period starting on Oct 24. The chief executive urged those who love Hong Kong and the nation, possess governance capabilities, and are dedicated to serving the public to run for election, pledging that his administration is fully prepared to ensure a smooth electoral process.

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Lee said he is confident that new legislators will possess a thorough understanding of the community, sectors, and public sentiment. He said he anticipates their input will aid the SAR government in spearheading deeper reforms and reaffirming the commitment to maintaining a close partnership with LegCo in driving Hong Kong’s advancement together.

He reviewed the administration’s efforts since assuming office in actively fostering relations between the executive and legislative branches. This includes the monthly Ante Chamber Exchange Sessions and the Chief Executive’s Interactive Exchange Question and Answer Session.

After the improvements to the HKSAR’s electoral system in 2021, relations between the city’s legislative and executive branches have regained a sense of rationality, fostering more constructive interaction, Lee added.

LegCo has made remarkable progress, Lee said, praising it for passing around 130 bills in the current term, a 60 percent increase from the previous term, including the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, long-awaited legislation to reinforce the city’s national security protection mechanism. LegCo has also scrutinized 261 projects totaling HK$697.2 billion ($89.7 billion).

Electoral system reform has ended the ability of disruptive forces to exploit LegCo and district councils with the aim of sabotaging Hong Kong’s stability and endangering national security, he said.

The past four years have validated the reform of the legislature and brought it more in line with the actual situation in the city, providing a suitable democratic system for Hong Kong, Lee said.

Senior government officials, current lawmakers, representatives from diverse community sectors, and experts and scholars, were invited to share their perspectives and foster consensus at the seminar.

LegCo President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen spoke about the decisions of some lawmakers to not seek another term for personal or other reasons, emphasizing that member turnover from one LegCo term to another is a “healthy and natural norm”. He said he is confident that the upcoming election will introduce a new generation of skilled and promising people from diverse sectors, injecting momentum into the development of both the nation and Hong Kong.

Leung urged potential candidates to highlight their capabilities as well as their responsibilities and vision for Hong Kong and the country’s development to the public, striving to garner support from voters.

Legislator Starry Lee Wai-king said it is important for legislators to remember their roles as part of the city’s governance team, urging more collaboration with the executive branch to boost economic growth and improve livelihoods.

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She also advocated for enhanced, synchronized, and effective cooperation between the two branches to provide better service to the public, particularly in jointly researching crucial issues.

During his speech, Lau Siu-kai, consultant of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said he anticipates advancements across all facets of Hong Kong with the new-term LegCo to be constituted later this year.

He called for closer cooperation between the two branches to align Hong Kong with national development strategies, such as the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which is being drafted, while hastening progress on the Northern Metropolis and tackling complex global challenges together.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com