New Hong Kong leader John Lee to set up 4 task forces on key livelihood issues, tells ministers to come up with policy targets by end of August

John Lee reveals at his first question and answer session in the Legislative Council that he has told all bureau chiefs to submit their targets to his office by next month

He tells lawmakers that department bosses must address issues that come their way and that there must be a stronger accountability culture

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John Lee (front) attended his first Legco question and answer session as chief executive. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Published: 8:29pm, 6 Jul 2022Updated: 10:39pm, 6 Jul 2022

Hong Kong’s new leader will set up four task forces to tackle pressing livelihood issues and has ordered ministers to formulate policy targets by the end of next month, he revealed while laying out his governing plans during his first official visit to the legislature as chief executive.

John Lee Ka-chiu also said he would revive a government think tank, to be renamed the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, that would not only gauge local public sentiment, but also have a full grasp of national and international developments to help with policymaking.

Lee, who has pledged to adopt a “result-oriented” approach and set key performance indicators to measure progress, revealed at his first question and answer session in the Legislative Council on Wednesday that he had demanded all bureau chiefs submit their targets to his office by next month.

The 90-minute session was held on Wednesday morning. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

“My style of leadership is that I expect all directors of departments and secretaries of bureaus to be involved in the first instance when problems arise, and they should take the lead and work without wasting time,” he said, laying out his governing vision.

“I will require all directors of departments to set targets for their work. And if there are issues, they must address them and there must be a stronger accountability culture, so as to have more effective governance.”

Lee, who was paying his first visit to Legco as leader on the sixth day of his five-year term, was sworn in by Xi Jinping on July 1 during the president’s two-day trip to the city to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule.