Legco president Andrew Leung wants lawmakers to ‘be smart’ after low attendance record in the limelight

The president of the Legislative Council, Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, said on Wednesday - the first day Legco started its 2023-2024 ordinary session - that he expected lawmakers to “be smart” to fulfill their duties as the public has high expectations for them.

His comments came in response to criticism that a number of lawmakers had been absent from Legco meetings last year, having low attendance and voting records.

Veteran pro-establishment legislator Martin Liao Cheung-kong was said to have given a "warm reminder" to all lawmakers earlier, reminding them of the “ideal” number of motions they should put forward each year and to refrain from attending entertainment events.

Liao was also said to have held a meeting with Starry Lee Wai-king, Chairlady of the House Committee, a few days ago, setting up a new rule requiring lawmakers to declare their schedule should they need to leave the meeting for more than an hour.

When asked to comment on the issue of lawmaker's attendance, Leung said it is up to the lawmakers themselves on how they would like to fulfill their duties, and he believed the lawmakers concerned knew about the criticisms.

“People can see it for themselves, it's [the Legco meetings] all transparent.” Leung added.

Election Committee lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon, one of the lawmakers said to be less involved in the passing of motions, told reporters today that she had resigned from her Legal Advisor role at the MTR Corporation, so as to contribute more in her role as a lawmaker.

DAB lawmaker Holden Chow Ho-ding, meanwhile, said the party had been adopting a duty roster for its lawmakers, adding that the attendance records should be of no concern to them.

Separately, Tik Chi-yuen, a lawmaker of centrist party Third Side, said his attendance record has been ideal, yet he would still ask his secretary to set up reminders for him in case he missed out on voting on important motions.