EditorialAs 100 days pass, the time has come for John Lee to point way forward
- City’s latest leader has shown to be ‘result-oriented’ and, despite facing deep-seated problems, has gradually relaxed business curbs and travel restrictions, but there is a lot more to do
John Lee Ka-chiu’s first 100 days in office were arguably tougher than those of any of his predecessors.
Beset with a stubborn Covid-19 epidemic and a trove of deep-seated political, economic and livelihood problems inherited from the previous administration, the former government No 2 may not have had the luxury of easing into his new role as chief executive.
While he did live up to his pledge as a “result-oriented” leader in some respects, a lot more must be done if the city is to put behind its troubled past and begin a new chapter.
Unlike the relatively trouble-free start for Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor five years ago, Lee has had a lot on his plate since day one. From curbing a disturbing resurgence in virus infections and rebooting the city to boosting housing supply and attracting talents, an expansive agenda lies ahead. Evidently, many issues take more than months to resolve, but good progress has been made.
The gradual relaxation of business curbs and travel restrictions shows the views of the public have been taken on board. The pledge to avoid going back on tightening anti-Covid measures has also provided a certain degree of clarity and stability on the way forward. But to those who have become increasingly tired and impatient with the epidemic, the pace of recovery may have been quicker.
Lee has sought to impress as a leader who listens and delivers. Apart from recruiting media talents to enhance public communication, the ministerial team has also been proactively reaching out to different stakeholders and fostering a new governance culture of being result-oriented.