Hong Kong chief executive election 2022: No 2 government official John Lee ‘forming team for possible leadership bid’ as nomination window opens for delayed race
- Chief Secretary Lee, 64, laying groundwork for possible candidacy in May 8 election, sources say, with one pointing to his security background as key qualification
- Ex-leader Leung Chun-ying to be appointed chief convenor of Election Committee, other insiders say, while incumbent Carrie Lam tight-lipped on re-election bid
Multiple pro-establishment sources told the Post that Lee, 64, who led the Security Bureau for five years from 2017 before being promoted to chief secretary, was likely to sign up for the May 8 election, and “important announcements” would be made on Monday or Tuesday.
“Lee has been forming his team [to run for office],” one source said, while another suggested that Lee was well-equipped to take up the top job with his security background, given the city’s focus on protecting national security after the anti-government protests of 2019.
Other sources said former leader Leung Chun-ying would be appointed as chief convenor of the 1,463-strong Election Committee, which decides the city’s next leader.
“This is an appropriate role Beijing is expected to give Leung to play in this race,” one insider said of the former chief executive. That would put an end to months of speculation that Leung might take a shot at the top job again.
The convenor’s post is a powerful new position created as part of Beijing’s overhaul of Hong Kong’s political system, with only a “state-level leader”, such as Leung, being qualified to take it up.
Another source suggested that Leung, a vice-chairman of China’s top political advisory body, was “the only choice”. While the city’s first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, is also a state leader, his health would not allow him to take up the convenor’s job.
Incumbent Lam remained tight-lipped about her own plans on Sunday, insisting it was “not an appropriate time” to reveal her personal intentions yet.