Veteran lawmaker Starry Lee Wai-king officially entered the competition for the December Legislative Council election on Thursday, joining a competitive race she admitted has no "sure bet."
Lee, who has served in the Legislative Council (LegCo) since 2008, submitted her nomination to seek re-election in the Kowloon Central constituency this morning.
Drawing on her 20 years of experience within the grassroots community and her role in the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, Lee expressed her commitment to better integrate Hong Kong into national development plans while addressing pressing economic and social welfare issues.
Acknowledging the anticipated competition in the constituency -- where at least six candidates are expected to run for the two seats -- Lee recognized the challenge ahead, noting "there is no sure bet as all candidates have experience in community service."
Currently, other candidates in the Kowloon Central constituency include lawmaker Kitson Yang Wing-kit; Wong Tai Sin district councilors Yau Yiu-shing and Yeung Nok-hin; Kowloon City South district councilor Lee Chiu-yu and independent candidate Tammy Tam.
While recognizing that implementing policies is no easy task, Starry Lee affirmed her dedication to achieving consensus across various sectors and maintaining effective communication with different stakeholders.
As Hong Kong entered a critical phase of development from stability to greater prosperity, she urged the city to capitalize on its unique advantages under One Country, Two Systems to tackle challenges such as industrial transformation.
"Lawmakers must not only make suggestions but also 'get on the pitch'," Lee said, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to drive social and economic development.
Highlighting her responsibility to convey the voices of the citizens to both national and local governments, Lee expressed confidence in her ability to help Hong Kong maximize its strengths within the national development agenda.
With an aim to create quality job opportunities, Lee outlined her plans to solidify the city's status as an international financial center, accelerate the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone and Northern Metropolis, and enhance land supply mechanisms to diversify the industrial structure.
She also cited her past achievements, including the successful removal of health declaration requirements for incoming travelers and the enhancement of listing regulatory systems.
She called on her supporters to actively exercise their civic rights on voting day, emphasizing that every vote matters for the city's future.
