Hong Kong’s John Lee: Ex-security chief set to become new leaderon May 7, 2022 at 11:01 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

John Lee’s appointment is being seen as a move by China to tighten its grip on the city.

John Lee Ka-chiu, chief secretary for administration of Hong Kong government, speaks during a press conference on the determination results of the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee for the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections on August 26, 2021 in Hong Kong,

Image source, Getty Images

John Lee is set to be named Hong Kong’s new leader on Sunday, once a closed voting process in which he is the sole candidate concludes.

His appointment is being widely seen as a move by the Chinese government to tighten its grip on the city.

Known as a staunch Beijing supporter, Mr Lee oversaw the sometimes violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protestors in 2019.

Mr Lee replaces outgoing chief executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong’s leaders are selected by a closed-circle committee of around 1,500 members, who are nearly all pro-Beijing loyalists – although this time there was only one contender for them to elect.

Mr Lee, who was the former Chief Secretary and the city’s second-highest ranking official, was always tipped to be the favoured replacement for Ms Lam who earlier announced that she would not seek a second term in office.

But although Mr Lee has Beijing’s backing, he is deeply unpopular for his role in overseeing the crackdown on protestors during demonstrations over a controversial extradition bill in 2019.

Mr Lee continued to back the bill despite the unrest, and came under intense criticism for sanctioning the police’s use of water cannons, rubber bullets, tear gas and occasionally live ammunition to disperse protestors.

In 2020, he also backed the imposition of a controversial national security law which criminalised most forms of political protest and dissent, and reduced the city’s autonomy.

Mr Lee maintained that the law would help restore “stability from chaos”.

He was elevated to the leadership ranks last year, in a sign, analysts said, of Beijing’s intention to focus on security in Hong Kong.

His role in the implementation of the law led to US sanctions against him and a dozen other officials, and a YouTube block on his 2022 election campaign.

Hong Kong was handed back to China from Britain in 1997 under the agreement that rights such as freedom of assembly and freedom of speech would be guaranteed in the territory.

However, critics say those rights have been increasingly eroded as Hong Kong authorities crack down on dissent in the city. Mr Lee’s staunch support of Beijing’s policies has stoked fears that his leadership will usher in an era of tighter Chinese oversight of the semi-autonomous region.

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Capturing a semi-submersible loaded with cocaineon February 9, 2022 at 12:07 pm

The Colombian navy seize a vessel carrying four tonnes of narcotics worth $150m (£110m).

Education Secretary DeVos sued over rule related to for-profit college fraud

The Department of Education (ED) changed its rules on how students defrauded by for-profit colleges seek debt relief, leading to lawsuits and a political fight to...

Priyank Chopra, the Author of This Book Is an Authority on Health and Healing

Priyank Chopra, the Author of This Book Is an Authority on Health and HealingPriyank Chopra, if you didn't already know, is an authority...

Six Nations: Scotland’s great expectations against England as hope of impending joy met with suspicionon February 4, 2022 at 6:05 pm

The day that hope lived, or the day that hope died? Scotland's Six Nations great expectations against England are met with suspicion, writes Tom...

IPL: Australian cricketers caught by India ban fly homeon May 17, 2021 at 1:16 am

It comes as the government faces fresh criticism for failing to support Australians stranded in India.image copyrightGetty ImagesA group of Australian cricketers have landed...