John Lee (left), Hong Kong’s chief executive, during a visit to Abu Dhabi. On his trip to the Middle East in February, Lee told his hosts Hong Kong had “no restrictions whatsoever” in terms of Covid-19-related controls despite an ongoing public mask mandate with a fine for non-compliance. Photo: Handout via Xinhua
John Lee (left), Hong Kong’s chief executive, during a visit to Abu Dhabi. On his trip to the Middle East in February, Lee told his hosts Hong Kong had “no restrictions whatsoever” in terms of Covid-19-related controls despite an ongoing public mask mandate with a fine for non-compliance. Photo: Handout via Xinhua
Jason Wordie
Opinion

Opinion

Then & Now by Jason Wordie

Transparency is the only way to regain lost public trust and turn things around in Hong Kong

  • Truths become mutable when facts are made malleable, official statements around well-documented events are distorted and honest critics forcibly silenced
  • In such circumstances, steadfast insistence on transparency in public life becomes more vitally important than ever

Jason Wordie
Jason Wordie

Updated: 8:45am, 19 Feb, 2023

Why you can trust SCMP
John Lee (left), Hong Kong’s chief executive, during a visit to Abu Dhabi. On his trip to the Middle East in February, Lee told his hosts Hong Kong had “no restrictions whatsoever” in terms of Covid-19-related controls despite an ongoing public mask mandate with a fine for non-compliance. Photo: Handout via Xinhua
John Lee (left), Hong Kong’s chief executive, during a visit to Abu Dhabi. On his trip to the Middle East in February, Lee told his hosts Hong Kong had “no restrictions whatsoever” in terms of Covid-19-related controls despite an ongoing public mask mandate with a fine for non-compliance. Photo: Handout via Xinhua