Policy Address

Legislating under Article 23 of the Basic Law (BL23)

163.     I am aware of the diverse opinions about the enactment of legislation to implement BL23.  The majority view is that the current-term Government should, in the remaining one year or so of its term, focus its efforts on promoting economic development, improving people's livelihood and maintaining the prosperity, stability and development of our society, and that legislative work for implementing BL23 could be deferred.  After repeated deliberations, we have decided not to legislate under BL23 during the current term.  That said, I must reiterate that it is both a constitutional duty of the Hong Kong SAR Government and the collective responsibility of the whole community to enact legislation under BL23.  I believe that different sectors of the community will eventually arrive at a consensus and complete this task in due course.

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