After experiencing turmoil, the Legislative Council has improved its electoral system, enabling rational deliberation and constructive cooperation with the government, steadily advancing to a new stage from stability to prosperity.

Pragmatic and efficient leads to good results

As is well known, the Seventh Legislative Council is the first after Hong Kong’s improvement of its electoral system. The council has restored rational deliberation, achieving a leap in legislative efficiency; the executive and legislative branches have rebuilt mutual trust, with smooth operations. This term of the Legislative Council has passed a total of 130 bills, exceeding the previous term by 60%. This includes passing the Safeguarding National Security Bill, historically fulfilling the constitutional responsibility of legislating under Article 23 of the Basic Law; and passing a series of bills to improve people’s livelihood, such as addressing the issue of subdivided flats, implementing the three-tunnel diversion, and so on. In terms of the Finance Committee, a total of 261 projects were approved, with a total commitment of HKD697.2 billion, more than double that of the previous term.

The quantitative leap does not represent a decline in quality. Society has witnessed the high-quality and efficient deliberation of the Safeguarding National Security Bill by members. And when discussing socially controversial issues, such as registration of same-sex partnerships, members truthfully reflected different voices from various sectors of society. Although the government bill was ultimately not passed, it does not affect the Legislative Council’s support for the SAR government’s executive-led system and governance in accordance with the law.

Rectifying Chaos and being pragmatic

In 2012, I was first elected as a Legislative Council member. During my three terms in the Legislative Council, I was deeply saddened by the destruction of the rule of law and facilities such as the LegCo building caused by the “black violence,” and I was extremely worried about witnessing the obstruction of important bills and appropriations related to people’s livelihood; fortunately, with the support of the country, Hong Kong has institutionally completed the transition from chaos to order, opening the path from stability to prosperity. Looking back on my 13-year parliamentary journey, what I wanted to do and had to do, I have all accomplished, such as personally leading multiple revisions to the Rules of Procedure and Finance Committee procedures (anti-filibustering and improving mechanisms), uniting the pro-establishment faction in struggles against the opposition, and participating in important work such as improving the local legislation for the electoral system, legislating under Article 23 of the Basic Law, and improving district governance.

Looking back on my parliamentary career, I have built deep friendships with pro-establishment members under difficult circumstances, and I have learned a lot from them. No matter what positions everyone holds in the future, I wish all Seventh Legislative Council members to continue to leverage their strengths and serve society.

Conveying public opinion for promoting development

This is my last article published in the “Voice in LegCo” column. Since the Fifth Legislative Council, thanks to the support and trust of CGCC, I have served as a member in the Commercial (Second) functional constituency. Over the years, I have brought the voices of the CGCC and the public into the council, striving to advocate and promote the diversification of Hong Kong’s economy. This includes seizing the opportunities of the national “Belt and Road” Initiative, domestic demand, helping SMEs upgrade and transform, developing e-commerce markets, and importing labor, etc. Therefore, I am particularly gratified to see the government shift from the “positive non-intervention” mindset, promoting the development of emerging industries such as innovation and technology, life sciences and pharmaceuticals, injecting new momentum into the economy. At the same time, grasping the new global development trends and new opportunities in national modernization, identifying and responding to changes, establishing multinational supply chain management centers and “mainland enterprises going global task forces,” and exploring emerging markets. Only with sustained and stable economic development, and scientific and reasonable resource allocation, can people’s livelihood truly improve, and young people have upward mobility. I sincerely wish CGCC to continue leading the industry in exploring business opportunities, injecting new impetus into the local economy, and making greater contributions to Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability.

The Eighth Legislative Council election has been successfully held, and I earnestly hope that the new Legislative Council will fully cooperate with the government, do a good job in the post-disaster reconstruction of Tai Po Wang Fuk Court, deeply review institutional loopholes, and carry out systemic reforms. Moreover, focus on the long term, promote the government to enhance governance efficiency, so that all citizens can live and work in peace and contentment.

This is a free translation. For the exact meaning of the article, please refer to the Chinese version.

Should you have any comments on the article, please feel free to contact Mr Martin Liao.
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