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Gary Cheung

Tony Cheung

Hong Kong film producer and kung fu master Checkley Sin Kwok-lam has become the first person to throw his hat into the ring for the chief executive election in March.
Speaking on his YouTube channel on Wednesday morning, Sin said he was confident he could win the leadership race. But the producer behind the martial arts film series Ip Man did not elaborate on how he could secure enough nominations to qualify for the election.
The 64-year-old is a former managing director of Wing Hang Credit and an ex-chairman of National Arts Holdings, which produces and distributes films.
Sin is a protégé of the son of late kung fu master Ip Man. Kung fu legend Bruce Lee was one of Ip Man’s disciples.
Rumour mill in overdrive on Beijing’s silence about race for Hong Kong leader
“My election slogan is to serve Hong Kong without caring about personal gain or losses,” he said.
The political novice said the city was in need of major change after the 2019 protests.
“If the new-term government doesn’t introduce drastic reforms in the next five years, how many five years will Hong Kong still have?” he asked.
“I will strive to raise the living standard of Hong Kong people by focusing on economic development,” he said.

Sin has made a name for himself by criticising the government for not being tough enough in handling protesters, and for his online shows accusing the West of hypocrisy for its stance on Hong Kong affairs.
From humble beginnings, Sin was a taxi driver in his younger days. He had his left eye removed in 2018 following an infection but said his health and stamina were no worse than anyone else’s.
Sin said his campaign team comprised students and housewives. He is seen as having little chance of winning although some pro-establishment politicians said they believed he could have Beijing’s blessing to become a candidate in a contested election.
The city’s next leader will be chosen on March 27 by the powerful Election Committee, which is packed with pro-government loyalists. It will be the first race for the city’s top job since Beijing’s “patriots-only” overhaul of the electoral system.
Who will throw their hat into the ring in Hong Kong’s leadership race?
To become a candidate for chief executive, hopefuls must obtain the endorsement of one-eighth, or 188, of the committee’s 1,500 members and at least 15 nominations from each of the body’s five sectors. The rule means hopefuls need broad-based support from all sectors just to get approval to run, effectively raising the barrier to even entering the race.
At a press conference late last month, city leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the two-week nomination period for the race would start on February 15.
But a source at the Registration and Electoral Office told the Post last Friday the date was not official until it was gazetted. The insider said the office had been preparing to announce the nomination period and release guidelines at a press conference early this month when “Beijing abruptly asked us to hold everything”.
Lam, 64, has so far declined to say whether she will seek re-election, and Beijing has not indicated that she has its blessing to run again.

She has repeatedly brushed off election talk, instead saying she is focused on the work to be done before her term ends in June, including a major government restructuring.
Other names that have ­surfaced as potential candidates include lawmaker and New People’s Party chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, ­former chief executive Leung Chun-ying and former World Health Organization director general Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun.
Sin’s bid drew a lukewarm response from lawmakers on Wednesday.
Tik Chi-yuen, chairman of the Third Side party and the only centrist legislator, said he was puzzled by the businessman’s announcement.
“Sin is mainly active on the internet. I’m not sure if his experience in public administration, and social networking is enough [for him to lead the city],” he said.
Beijing exerts its hand in Hong Kong’s elections
For pro-establishment lawmakers Alice Mak Mei-kuen and Paul Tse Wai-chun, it was too early to say whether they would nominate Sin.
“I hope Sin’s announcement will encourage more people to publicise their plans,” Tse said.
Asked if it was appropriate for a political novice such as Sin to run for the top job, Tse said it was not an issue as some foreign leadership posts were held by politicians who had no experience as government officials or civil servants.
While it was good for people to be interested in the leadership race, Mak said, the city’s leader should be someone who understood the people’s views, and had experience in public administration and management.


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Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong film producer, kung fu master Checkley Sin throws hat in the ring for chief executive race

Film producer and kung fu master Checkley Sin announces his intention to run for chief executive on his YouTube channel on Thursday morning. Photo: Facebook

Checkley Sin says he is confident he can win the leadership race. Photo: Handout

Former World Health Organization director general Margaret Chan. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong guessing game: why is Beijing still silent on the chief executive race? And does Carrie Lam have its backing?

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has yet to say whether she will seek re-election. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Will city leader Carrie Lam run for another term as chief executive? Photo: Sam Tsang

Word is circulating that Financial Secretary Paul Chan will be leaving his post soon. Photo: Nora Tam

Former World Health Organization director general Margaret Chan is considered a more Western-friendly option. Photo: AFP

Has Carrie Lam just released her re-election manifesto?

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks at a press conference. Photo: AP

Does Carrie Lam’s ambitious plan to overhaul the Hong Kong government go far enough?

Chief Executive Carrie Lam at the Legislative Council on Wednesday. Photo: Sam Tsang

 The overhaul calls for the creation of a new Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. Photo: Dickson Lee

DAB lawmaker Starry Lee says a single bureau should oversee land and housing policy. Photo: Dickson Lee

News

Hong Kong

Politics


Sin is the force behind the Ip Man film series, and former managing director of Wing Hang Credit
He is the first person to explicitly announce intention to enter March leadership race



Sin is the force behind the Ip Man film series, and a former managing director of Wing Hang Credit.


Hong Kong chief executive election 2022

Hong Kong film producer, kung fu master Checkley Sin throws hat in the ring for chief executive race

Sin is the force behind the Ip Man film series, and former managing director of Wing Hang Credit He is the first person to explicitly announce intention to enter March leadership race

Sin is the force behind the Ip Man film series, and former managing director of Wing Hang Credit

He is the first person to explicitly announce intention to enter March leadership race