Hong Kong No 2 official John Lee’s focus is on national security, not other policy issues, Carrie Lam says

City leader acknowledges her deputy’s lack of experience in other areas traditionally overseen by chief secretary, but insists she will helm these

Lam also tight-lipped on re-election bid, but reveals coming policy address will focus on vision for city, as though penned by a new office-holder

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Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam (right) and her deputy, former security chief John Lee. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 12:40pm, 11 Jul 2021Updated: 11:50am, 12 Jul 2021

Hong Kong’s leader has said she will not expect her newly promoted deputy to oversee policies on youth, ethnic minorities and poverty alleviation in light of his lack of experience in those areas, but she holds high hopes over his ability to curb national security threats.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said her latest cabinet reshuffle – in which security chief John Lee Ka-chiu was appointed as chief secretary while police commissioner Chris Tang Ping-keung took over his previous portfolio – was aimed at improving governance. Lee, a former police officer, had faced criticism over his perceived lack of policy experience.

“While the national security law imposed on Hong Kong last June has yielded immediate results, what happened recently still casts a shadow [over society],” Lam told a radio programme on Sunday without elaborating further.

Carrie Lam made the comments on a Sunday radio show. Photo: Nora Tam

Apart from punishing those who endanger national security, Lam said it was also important for the government to prevent such acts in the first place. The administration needed someone familiar with the importance of national security, she added.

“I have told John Lee I do not expect him to work on poverty alleviation or issues concerning youth and ethnic minorities, because of his lack of experience. We will play to our strengths respectively, with me spending more effort on these aspects,” Lam said. “But Lee must beef up our safeguarding of national security, including prevention work.”