Lee said yesterday he will outline to state leaders the SAR's economic, social and political situation, as well as to reflect people's demands for a resumption of quarantine-free travel.

Lee said he's sure Beijing has "a good understanding" of the current situation here.

"Of course, I will be reflecting the concern of Hong Kong people, whose voices are already heard by the central people's government," he said. "It is something that I think we are all working hard to see how it can be done, because we all know very well that while we want to do this, we have to consider how we do it in an orderly fashion, maintaining a good control of the risks and the potential problems that may arise when new arrangements are introduced."

He said more than 90 percent of anti-epidemic measures in the city have been relaxed, and the parts that haven't have been left in place to protect the health-care system.

Lee flies to Beijing this afternoon with the director of the chief executive's office, Carol Yip Man-kuen, and his private secretary Priscilla To Kit-lai and returns Saturday. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki will be the acting chief executive.

Meanwhile, the National People's Congress standing committee will have a meeting from next Tuesday and Friday, but the interpretation to clarify whether overseas lawyers are allowed in national security cases is not on the public agenda.

Asked if this means there's a possibility that Beijing will not interpret the law, Lee said he is looking forward to Beijing's announcement in response to his request for national security law interpretation, to address the issue of foreign lawyer's involvement.