My Take | ‘Iron man’ needs to show Hong Kong his ‘good cop’ side
- Many would have liked a fresh face as the next chief executive, signalling that the city is ready to move on. But John Lee, like any new leader, deserves to be given a chance
The election of Hong Kong’s leader is often described as a “race” or a “contest”. I have used such terms myself in the past. But they do not accurately describe the process. The winner is always the candidate selected by Beijing and everyone knows who that is before a vote has been cast.
This time, career policeman John Lee Ka-chiu has emerged as the central government’s choice. He will be the only candidate it endorses. In practice, this means there is no need for an election.
After months of speculation, events have moved quickly. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor revealed she would not seek a second term. Lee then resigned as chief secretary and announced his intention to stand.
We can now sit back and watch as members of the Election Committee, numbering almost 1500, scramble to burnish their patriotic credentials by showing support for Lee. He has less than a week to secure the 188 nominations needed, but will receive many more than that. No other candidate will reach the magic number. This is more like an appointment process than a poll.
Having only one candidate will turn the clock back 20 years, when Tung Chee-hwa was the lone contender and secured an ill-fated second term as his popularity fell. His successor, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, was also unopposed in 2005.
Public opinion has, in the past, appeared to influence Beijing’s choice. Not this time. The central government is more concerned that the matter be settled quickly, avoiding divisions in the pro-establishment camp.