He said the “stomy five years” came at the same time as the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic.

Luckily, lawmakers have held onto their aspirations and worked against all odds. “With the implementation of the National Security Law, rationality returns to the council and we successfully passed bills that are controversial but also beneficial to Hongkongers' livelihood,” he said, adding this LegCo term is the first since 2008 without any lapsed bills.

He thanked lawmakers for defending the Basic Law and the “dignity” of the Legco while voicing citizens' concerns.

House committee chairwoman Starry Lee Wai-king, also chairwoman of the city’s biggest pro-establishment party Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said the pro-establishment camp needs to support the government on crucial issues, as many people think the government and the camp should shoulder responsibilities on flawed policies.

New People’s Party co-founder Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said some elected lawmakers in the past wanted to overthrow the government, which had brought harm to the council and society

She hoped that the overhauled electoral system could allow the election of higher quality lawmakers.