Two-way Q&A in hybrid sessions

A revamped interactive and consultative exchange session between Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and lawmakers from next Thursday will facilitate two-way question-and-answer communication on strategic policies and the essence of the 20th National Congress of CPC and the two sessions.

The restructured session will be a hybrid version of the existing Legco Q&A - introduced by Lee's predecessor Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor - and it will include bill debates and policy address consultations, Lee said yesterday.

"I think two-way communication is more effective than one-way communication of legislators asking questions and officials answering," he said.

Lee said he wants to "make the time productive and useful" and he believes the new session can combine with the existing ones - the Legco Q&A session, motion debate, and policy address consultation where he can also get constructive feedback from legislators.

He added that the process "will take place in the public eye," enabling Hongkongers to "learn about important policies, important plans, such as the topic I have chosen, the reports and the spirit of our country in taking Hong Kong and the whole country through the years ahead."

Lee said he decided to add the new session after interacting with lawmakers, and his last visit to the Greater Bay Area "indicates that patriots can unite together to do things with a common purpose."

He added: "And the common purpose is very clear for patriots, which is that we'll try to make good policies and measures that will be creating positive values for Hong Kong, whether it's for economic development, or building a livable city," he said.

Legco president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen said the move shows that Lee attaches importance to two-way communication with lawmakers.

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong chairwoman Starry Lee Wai-king said the change is an "upgrade" and hopes that the session can be extended to two hours from the current one-and-a-half hours.

"Apart from upgrading the content, we also hope the duration can be upgraded ... to express our views to the chief executive," she said.

Lee, meanwhile, will lead a delegation of officials on a three-day trip to Chongqing today.

It will become the third mainland city - after Beijing and Shanghai - to establish collaboration with Hong Kong.

He said Hong Kong and Chongqing will deepen cooperation to achieve complementary and mutual benefits, enabling development to reach new heights.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com