Hong Kong chief executive election 2022: Why did hopeful John Lee keep talking about ‘result-oriented’ approach to governing?
- Former chief secretary ‘is not stuck to the old colonial government system or ways of thinking”, says business chamber head
- But one analyst warns government must focus on producing talented ministers who can make good decisions and long-term plans for city
Chief executive hopeful John Lee Ka-chiu’s pledge to lead a “result-oriented” administration echoes Beijing’s simmering dissatisfaction with Hong Kong’s civil service elite and their insistence on procedural compliance at the expense of outcomes, analysts have said.
Observers also felt that by stressing the need for Hong Kong to boost its competitiveness and consolidate a firm foundation for the city’s growth, Lee showed he was aware he needed to underscore such ambitions for the city to prevent critics from harping on his lack of business experience.
“I think Lee’s speech was quite impressive. He wanted people to see that he will bring decisive changes, and he hoped that the business sector would no longer see him as a police or security official, but a leader who can identify problems and take action,” said economist Simon Lee Siu-po, an honorary fellow at Chinese University’s Asia-Pacific Institute of Business.
Lee made three election promises – that he would enhance Hong Kong’s overall competitiveness, strengthen the city’s foundation for future development and adopt a pragmatic style of government.
“I’ve always believed that aside from procedural compliance, our ultimate objective must be to achieve results,” said the former chief secretary, who joined public service in 1977 as a police inspector.
“I intend to effect changes on government philosophy, and ways of doing things, so as to enhance the effectiveness of policy implementation.”
Lee added that “change should not be for the sake of changing, and good policies and practices must remain”.
