Hong Kong Chief Secretary John Lee to lead vetting committee for would-be election candidates

The former security chief will be joined by constitutional affairs chief Erick Tsang, security secretary Chris Tang and home affairs minister Caspar Tsui

Three unofficial members – former justice secretary Elsie Leung, ex-Legco president Rita Fan and one-time university president Lawrence Lau – round out the committee

Reading Time:4 minutes

John Lee, now Hong Kong’s chief secretary, will play a major role in determining who can run for office. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 10:29am, 6 Jul 2021Updated: 2:06pm, 8 Sep 2021

Hong Kong’s leader has appointed her recently promoted deputy John Lee Ka-chiu as chairman and three pro-Beijing figures as members of a powerful new vetting committee established to ensure candidates in the city’s coming elections pose no threat to national security.

Analysts said the line-up reflected the central government’s determination to guarantee that future Hong Kong polls would be watertight in keeping out candidates holding anti-China views.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Tuesday said the seven-member committee – created as part of a drastic overhaul of the city’s electoral system – would also include constitutional affairs chief Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, security secretary Chris Tang Ping-keung and home affairs minister Caspar Tsui Ying-wai.

The appointments were unveiled just two weeks after Lee was promoted from Hong Kong’s security minister to its chief secretary. Tang, formerly police commissioner, took his place as secretary for security.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Tuesday praised three pro-Beijing heavyweights she hand-picked for roles on the new committee. Photo: Sam Tsang

A trio of pro-Beijing heavyweights – former justice secretary Elsie Leung Oi-sie, ex-Legislative Council president Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai and former Chinese University of Hong Kong president Lawrence Lau Juen-yee – have been chosen as the committee’s unofficial members.

“They are loyal to the country, responsible and committed to society,” Lam said, stressing the three had no political party affiliations and were of “high social standing”.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x