Too early to think about retirement, president of Hong Kong’s legislature says

Andrew Leung notes current lawmakers passed nearly 50 per cent more bills than their predecessors did

Reading Time:2 minutes

President of the Legislative Council Andrew Leung has said every lawmaker would be focused on the remaining year of their term, and the future would be considered at an appropriate time. Photo: May Tse

Published: 8:41pm, 19 Dec 2024Updated: 8:55pm, 19 Dec 2024

The president of Hong Kong’s legislature has said it is too early to think about retirement, as he praised lawmakers for passing nearly 50 per cent more government bills in the first three years of the body’s current term than their predecessors did.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen predicted lawmakers would be “very busy” in 2025 vetting numerous bills aimed at boosting the economy and resident’s livelihood before their term ended next December.

“We have another year to go, so I think it is too early for any members to think of plans for 2026,” said Leung, who was elected to the position in 2016. “I think the government is working very hard together with Legco. Hopefully there are plenty of bills to get Hong Kong into a better economic situation or direction, [and] there are a lot of bills to help to improve the livelihood of Hong Kong citizens.

“So I think we are going to have a very busy year.”

Legco has been without opposition lawmakers since 2020. The bloc’s legislators resigned as a group ahead of Beijing’s overhaul of the electoral system in 2021 to ensure only “patriots” held political power.

Responding to questions about his retirement plans, Leung said every lawmaker would be focused on the remaining year of their term, and the future would be considered at an appropriate time.