Hong Kong’s next leader John Lee expected to meet President Xi Jinping during visit to Beijing to receive letter of appointment
- It will be Lee’s first meeting with top leaders since he was returned uncontested in chief executive election on May 8
- Chief executive-elect will also present names of finalists for his team to the central government for its approval
It will be Lee’s first meeting with top leaders since he was returned uncontested on May 8 with 99.2 per cent of the vote in a small-circle election decided by Beijing loyalists. The State Council approved his appointment on May 20 and he will be sworn in as Hong Kong’s next leader on July 1.
His meeting with state leaders is most likely to happen on Monday after he undergoes quarantine over the weekend.
The source said Lee had been notified about his trip to the capital last week to accept his appointment letter from Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and meet Xi.
It has been a regular practice for every chief executive-elect to receive the appointment letter in person from the premier, with separate meetings with the president and other senior officials.
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor made the trip in 2017 as did Leung Chun-ying in 2012, both two weeks after winning the election.