What's in a name?

With the number of lawmakers this year growing from 70 to 90, it will be a challenge for the public as well as the legislators themselves to recognize all the faces.

Keen eyes have spotted that placards carrying lawmakers' Chinese names were put in front of them when panels held their first meeting on Tuesday.

The placards did not carry their English names, so they are not helpful for English-language readers of The Standard to get to know the legislators.

According to the law, both Chinese and English are official languages used by the executive, legislature and judiciary of Hong Kong.

But with "father of Lan Kwai Fong" Allan Zeman losing in the election, it is less likely that any lawmaker will speak in English during meetings.

In view of the worsening pandemic, Legco president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen shortened the meeting to only one day yesterday, instead of the usual two-day arrangement.

That's to reduce the risk of infection to lawmakers, staff and other users of the building.