Hong Kong Chief of Staff John Lee, right, attends a reception, following the flag-lowering ceremony to mark China’s National Day, in Hong Kong on October 1, 2021.
Kin Cheung / AP
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Kin Cheung / AP
Hong Kong Chief of Staff John Lee, right, attends a reception, following the flag-lowering ceremony to mark China’s National Day, in Hong Kong on October 1, 2021.
Kin Cheung / AP
Hong Kong’s No. 2 official, a staunch supporter of Beijing’s crackdown on pro-democracy activists, submitted his resignation on Wednesday to pave the way for election. in the upcoming leadership race of the city.
John Lee, who is the city’s administrative secretary, has submitted his resignation to Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, according to a government statement.
“If my resignation is approved by the Central People’s Government, I will plan to run for the upcoming chief executive officer election,” Lee said at a press conference. “Working in the government for more than 40 years, serving the people of Hong Kong is an honor.”
He said he would be more specific about his “next move” if the Chinese government approved his resignation.
Security law targets democracy activists and media
Lee, who is seen as Beijing’s favored candidate for the chief executive, is a staunch supporter of the city’s national security law, which has been used since 2020 to target politicians democracy activists, advocates and media, curtailing the freedoms promised to Hong Kong at the British Handover to China in 1997.
His ability to lead Hong Kong could signal a further tightening of Beijing’s grip on the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
Blue say second She will not seek a second term, after five tumultuous years caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a crackdown on political freedoms and Beijing’s growing influence over the territory.
Local media, including the leading South China Morning Post, reported that Lee would be the only candidate endorsed by the Chinese government.
Other candidates suggested by local media as likely candidates include the city’s Finance Minister, Paul Chan, although he has yet to express an intention to run.
According to Ivan Choy, senior lecturer at the Department of Government and Public Administration of the University of Hong Kong, China is seeking loyalty and national security emphasis on Hong Kong.
Compared with previous executives, Lee will have much less policy-making experience as he has spent most of his civilian career with the police and overseeing security affairs, Choy said.
With that inexperience, he said, Beijing could “play a more important role” in the city’s domestic and local affairs.
The city’s next leader will be selected on May 8 by an election committee of about 1,500 people, most of whom are pro-Beijing.
The leader of Hong Kong is chosen every five years, although the selection process is carefully orchestrated by Beijing behind the scenes.
The four executives selected since Hong Kong’s handover to mainland China in 1997 are all candidates favored by Beijing.
Lee, 64, a former professional policeman who has steadily risen through the ranks, was appointed chief Hong Kong secretary in June and previously served as Lam’s secretary in charge of security.
Lee withdraws sanctions from US over security law
He was a key figure in proposing controversial legislation in 2019 that would allow suspects in Hong Kong to be extradited to mainland China. He rejected calls from critics to write the protections into the bill.
The proposed bill led to massive protests in the city before it was withdrawn, and Lee oversaw a police crackdown on protesters during months of massive anti-government protests in 2014. 2019.
After the protests were quelled, Lee advocated for sweeping security legislation, which was used to justify the arrest of more than 150 people. It outlaws subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces in the affairs of the city.
Lee, Lam and other mainland Chinese and Hong Kong government officials were sanctioned by the US in 2020 for “undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and restricting freedom of speech or assembly.”
Nominations for the leadership race begin Sunday and continue through April 16, with the committee vote scheduled for May 8.
The leadership race is the first since Hong Kong’s election law was amended last year to ensure that only “patriots” loyal to Beijing can hold office. These changes make it difficult for pro-democracy advocates to run for chief executive officer.
The new leader took office on July 1, the day Hong Kong was handed over to China by the British in 1997.
