Hong Kong’s chief executive election may fall short of the standards expected of a democratic and competitive leadership race. But it does not mean John Lee Ka-chiu can just sit back and wait to be crowned the city’s next leader. With the ballot only two weeks away, the sole candidate has been penning his campaign platforms and meeting some selected individuals and families as part of his community reachout . It is important that he continues to engage the wider public and map out concrete policy targets and action plans to make good his promises in the five-year term. Is Hong Kong chief executive hopeful John Lee reaching out to the right crowds? The former government No 2 official met members of the Election Committee in the early stage of his campaign. As social-distancing restrictions have been relaxed, he has also reached out to low-income families and ethnic minority groups. The visits behind closed doors might have prevented direct media coverage. But with the Covid-19 fifth wave still lingering, large gatherings should be avoided. Lee’s community visits have also raised concerns whether he is prepared to listen to a wider spectrum of opinions. The Sunday activities were said to have been organised by Beijing-friendly bodies and have left some non-establishment groups feeling alienated. The arrangements may leave a bitter taste in a city that has become more politically divided under Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s leadership. A more inclusive approach will not only enable Lee to hear different views, it will also help engage the wider public and rebuild a more harmonious society. Can John Lee heal Hong Kong’s deep political, economic and social wounds? There are those who dismiss the campaign as just a show. Even though Lee’s victory is a foregone conclusion, he is still required to go through the standing procedures to win the support of the Election Committee and the public. This includes facing 7.5 million people and making comprehensive and concrete promises. The leader-in-waiting has outlined three principles for his future governance – to achieve results, boost competitiveness and reinforce the city’s foundation. The real test is producing more concrete election platforms. His campaign office has said that the platforms may not necessarily have detailed and specific targets, raising concerns whether they would only be broad directions. He needs to produce clear solutions to a wide range of deep-seated problems while balancing public expectations with what is achievable. This will not be easy. The challenges have been tackled with an array of measures introduced by his predecessors but with limited success. Lee positions himself as a result-oriented leader, saying it is crucial to give the public a sense of gain. A comprehensive election platform that can be delivered and which can benefit the people of this city must now be top of his checklist.