Hong Kong's outgoing sole delegate to the country's top legislature, Tam Yiu-chung, said on Thursday that the SAR government now has ample time to look for the best way to handle the matter relating its request for the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) to interpret the national security law.

His comments came after the High Court on Tuesday adjourned the national security trial of Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai until September 2023, pending a possible ruling by the NPCSC which could ban the British barrister Lai has chosen from representing him.

Chief Executive John Lee earlier asked the top legislative body to clarify whether overseas lawyers without full qualifications in the SAR can take part in national security cases.

Tam told reporters that he did not think the NPCSC would deal with the matter in its meeting at the end of the year.

“With the start of the trial now delayed until September next year, there's now plenty of time. The government can take the time to consider the appropriate way to handle the case,” Tam said.

“I don't believe it would be dealt with in the upcoming [NPCSC] meeting as it hasn't been added to the agenda."

Tam added that he did not know what decision the NPCSC would make in response to Hong Kong's request.