John Lee stresses need for lawmakers after Tai Po fire as poll to go on

Hong Kong will hold the Legislative Council election as scheduled on Sunday, the chief executive has announced, arguing that it is important to elect new lawmakers who will be his key partners in launching reforms as the city reels from the deadly fire in Tai Po.

City leader John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that lawmakers were needed to help scrutinise funding and work with the government to review policies to prevent such a tragedy from taking place again.

“The partners I need most importantly are lawmakers,” Lee said ahead of his weekly meeting with the city’s key decision-making Executive Council.

“To hold the election as scheduled is to respect the constitutional order and rule of law … it is also to safeguard social stability as it serves as a strong support to the post-fire work.”

Lee said many post-fire tasks involved lawmakers, including scrutinising proposals, approving budgets and formulating laws, adding that the No 5 alarm blaze would inevitably prompt reflection on the system and policies.

“Electing lawmakers with aspirations is an important step on the path to reconstruction. Support and follow-up work will continue and the pace of reform must not slow down. We must move forward,” he added.