Annual Report 2024

Members receive visitors, visiting dignitaries and other parliamentary organizations to share knowledge and exchange ideas. Members also take part in meetings and liaison activities to establish and reinforce links with consular officials and local organizations.

On 28 June 2024, the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“LOCPG”), Mr ZHENG Yanxiong, along with other LOCPG officials, was invited to visit the Legislative Council (“LegCo”) for a luncheon and exchange with LegCo Members. Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on the “changes and the unchanging” in Hong Kong over the past 27 years since its return to the motherland. Director ZHENG appreciated LegCo’s efforts in safeguarding national security and emphasized the trend of Hong Kong society advancing from governance to prosperity under the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”. In the future, both parties would establish a regular exchange mechanism to promote Hong Kong’s integration into national development.

The President and Members of LegCo receive visitors and visiting dignitaries referred by government departments and Consuls-General in Hong Kong as well as parliamentary organizations, and brief them on the work of LegCo and the latest developments in Hong Kong. These visitors include members of overseas legislatures, political and business leaders, government officials as well as prominent people from international organizations and renowned institutions. During the session, 38 such meetings were held.

To strengthen interactive engagement with the international community, LegCo invited Consuls-General and Honorary Consuls in Hong Kong to visit the LegCo Complex in July 2024, where a briefing and a cocktail reception were held. The event facilitated exchanges between Members and diplomatic personnel on Hong Kong’s latest developments and international issues, thereby deepening mutual relations. A total of 44 Consuls-General and Honorary Consuls in Hong Kong attended the event.

Continuing its annual tradition, LegCo hosted a spring luncheon in February 2024 and a networking luncheon in December 2024. The Chief Executive, Executive Council Members and senior government officials were invited to both events to promote constructive interaction between the Legislature and the Government, enhance executive-legislative relations and ensure the smooth and efficient administration of the Government.

The Chief Executive Mr John LEE Ka-chiu initiated regular Ante Chamber Exchange Sessions (“AESs”) to foster constructive and interactive relationships between the Executive Authorities and the Legislature. A total of four AESs led by Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries of Departments were held during the session. Members exchanged views directly with government officials on different policy issues during these exchange sessions.

Members of LegCo hold regular meetings on a roster basis with District Council members to exchange views on issues of mutual interest. Each meeting is convened in turn by a LegCo Member and is followed by a luncheon attended by both the relevant District Council members and LegCo Members. Matters raised at these meetings which require follow-up actions will be referred to the relevant Panels or the Public Complaints Office. During the session, 10 such meetings were held.

In July 2024, LegCo hosted a tea reception for charitable organizations. Members of the new Boards of Directors from leading charitable organizations in Hong Kong (namely Tung Wah Group of Hospitals; Po Leung Kuk; Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon; Pok Oi Hospital; Yan Chai Hospital; and Yan Oi Tong) met with nearly 50 Members in a relaxed atmosphere to exchange views on issues such as supporting vulnerable communities and promoting innovation in social services. Over 100 guests attended the reception. LegCo expressed its hope to further deepen cooperation with charitable organizations in the future, with a view to building a caring and harmonious society.

On 12 July 2024, LegCo and the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, co-organized the event “Supporting the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the Paris Olympic Games (‘POG’)”. The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with eight current and retired athletes, called on the entire city to rally behind the Delegation. The event showcased the Olympic medal ceremony attire and competition uniforms of the Delegation to POG. Members also participated in a physical fitness challenge, experiencing the charm of sport first-hand. During POG, live broadcasts of the competitions were shown in the Main Lobby of the LegCo Complex, bringing the public together to cheer on the athletes.

During this session, the LegCo Football Team played three friendly matches against the Chinese Banking Association of Hong Kong, the Government Football Team, and the Hong Kong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics Limited. The five-a-side match against the Government Football Team was a particular highlight, with the Chief Executive attending the event to show his support and nearly 50 government officials participating. At the event, the Chief Executive joined the LegCo President to officiate at the kick-off ceremony, and cheered for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games athletes alongside Members and government officials. The aim of the match was to boost Olympic enthusiasm, encourage community-wide participation in sports, and showcase a united spirit across all sectors of society.

In response to the Government’s call for vaccination, the Department of Health sent an outreach team to the LegCo Complex on 23 October 2024 to provide Members with influenza vaccinations and COVID-19 booster shots. Around 50 Members participated in the event and the Secretary for Health led his team to the site to show their support. Through their actions, members of the public were urged to get vaccinated and collectively strengthen the community’s immune barrier.

The Hong Kong Red Cross sent its mobile blood donation vehicle to the LegCo Complex from 13 to 14 November 2024 to provide blood donation services to Members, Members’ staff and the Secretariat staff. In parallel, the Department of Health also arranged for an organ donation promotion vehicle to visit LegCo to promote the “three donations” (blood, bone marrow and organ donation) and convey the spirit of selfless giving. The Secretary for Health, representatives of the Department of Health, and the Hong Kong Red Cross team supported and attended the event, showcasing the shared commitment of the Government and the community to promote the principle of mutual aid in saving lives.

On 25 January 2024, LegCo held its first food appreciation campaign, with more than 250 Members, Members’ staff, the Secretariat staff and media representatives participating during the lunch break. The event was organized by Food Angel, a non-profit organization that prepares hot meal boxes using surplus food ingredients, promoting the reduction of food waste. LegCo also signed the Food Wise Charter, pledging to implement specific measures such as reducing waste at source and separation of food waste, with the aim of promoting a “Food Wise LegCo”.

To promote the development of an ecological civilization, LegCo organized a screening of the documentaries “Enchanting China” and “Beautiful Hong Kong” in November 2024, which showcased the natural landscapes of our country and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region through the camera lens, and documented the innovative solutions adopted by government departments, environmental experts and non-governmental organizations to balance ecological conservation with urban development. The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, together with the Director of Environmental Protection and the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, attended the event to show their support and introduce the content of the documentaries to Members. LegCo also arranged for the documentaries to be played on a loop in the Main Lobby of the LegCo Complex, allowing users of the Complex, visitors and members of the public to appreciate the unique and stunning natural ecology of our country and Hong Kong, thereby deepening public awareness of environmental protection.