Hong Kong lawmaker who wrote John Lee’s election platform to helm new policy unit

A Hong Kong lawmaker responsible for writing Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s election platform has been appointed as the head of a newly formed official think tank, with expectations to help the city integrate into national development plans while also avoiding international relations risks.

The government on Tuesday announced that Stephen Wong Yuen-shan, 48, would take the helm at the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit starting on Wednesday.

The think tank, responsible for conducting research on policies and public sentiment, is among the incumbent government’s flagship plans. It is modelled on the Central Policy Unit which was turned into the Policy Innovation and Coordination Office during former chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s administration.

Lee also outlined four areas of focus, the first of which involved asking the newly appointed head of the unit to be “forward-thinking” in helping his government come up with long-term policies.

“Secondly, I’ve put a lot of emphasis on integrating into national development plans, therefore I hope [the newly appointed head] keeps a close eye on national development, policies and plans to suggest points of connection where we can more proactively involve ourselves in the development of the country for the best opportunities,” Lee said.

“Thirdly, we hope you can keep a close watch on international development and relations,” he added, urging Wong to look out for risks while pursuing opportunities.