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Jeffie Lam

How does a workaholic like John Lee Ka-chiu cope with the extreme pressure of his job as Hong Kong’s chief executive?
By practising qigong, the ancient Chinese form of gentle exercise and breathing techniques.
“It is a good way of relaxing myself and also keeping myself fit,” he told the Post.
“I somehow feel I can recover more effectively through qigong than actually going to bed.”

The 65-year-old former career police officer has only taken 2½ days of leave since assuming the city’s top job on July 1 last year. Colleagues have confirmed his seeming disregard for sleep, saying they have received work-related text messages at 3am or 4am.
Lee laughingly added: “I am not a kung fu man – I’m more on the relaxation, the mental side [of martial arts].”


On a more serious note, providing some insight into his private life, he acknowledged the impact his long hours had on his family.
“I’m lucky first of all that I have strong support from my family members, my wife in particular, despite the fact that I’m not giving her the time that she deserves, the family deserves,” he said.
“I feel guilty about it, but I think they support me. That is important because that takes away the mental stress that I somehow need to get through.”
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He is married to Janet Lam Lai-sim, who became a housewife to raise their two sons, Gilbert Lee Man-lung and Lee Man-chun, who are both now in their forties.
Lee’s predecessor, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, similarly earned a reputation for putting in long hours on the job, telling the Post in 2020 that she “did nothing except work” and did not have time to relax with her husband, Lam Siu-por.
Lee, who has practised qigong for more than two decades, said he was “very conscious” of the need to maintain his health as he needed it – and a fresh mind – “to do things that are of importance for society”.
The same vigilance was needed in governing Hong Kong, the leader suggested. When asked about the perceived heavy-handed approach of his administration to law enforcement following the 2019 anti-government protests, Lee cautioned that the city could never let its guard down when it came to national security threats.
Hong Kong’s leader rebuts ‘badmouthing’ over scope of national security law
It was human nature for people to allow themselves to become too comfortable after overcoming challenges, he said.
“If you don’t keep yourself in good health, you will only regret it when the disease hits you,” he added.
The importance of leading Hong Kong constantly motivated him, Lee said, citing the Chinese phrase lok ci bat pei, which means never growing tired of something you enjoy.
“When you really feel that there’s a purpose, when you feel that you are creating happiness … even though it is hard work but you don’t somehow feel the fatigue,” he said, adding the spirit fostered by his team also motivated him.
“That is the zeal that drives me on.”


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John Lee

How does Hong Kong’s workaholic leader John Lee relax? By practising ancient Chinese exercise of qigong

Hong Kong leader John Lee at Government House in Central. “I am not a kung fu man – I’m more on the relaxation, the mental side [of martial arts],” he says. Photo: Sam Tsang

Legislative Council president Andrew Leung with John Lee at a football match with officials at Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground in May. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong leader John Lee has hit nearly every goal for his first year in office, but what do residents think of his performance?

Chief Executive John Lee has been meeting his self-imposed key performance indicators, but what does that mean for residents?  Photo: Jelly Tse

Chief Executive John Lee has promised a “result-oriented” approach to governing. Photo: Sam Tsang

Policy continuity is critical for Hong Kong’s development, argues lawmaker Duncan Chiu. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Hong Kong leader John Lee has taken only 2½ days of leave since last July. So what has he achieved in his first year in office?

Illustration: Brian Wang

John Lee wins the chief executive election on May 8 last year. He quickly identified bureaucracy, proceduralism and indecisiveness as hurdles to overcome when he took office. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee (left) makes a duty visit to Beijing, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping in December last year. Photo: Xinhua

A retiree in a cage home in Yau Ma Tei. John Lee has yet to make his mark in decisively fixing the city’s public housing woes, a topic singled out by Beijing officials. Photo: Sam Tsang

John Lee with a young resident during a campaign stop in May last year. Lee has encouraged colleagues to hire public relations consultants on a project basis, according to their needs, a source has said. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

John Lee arrives in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where he is greeted by minister of artificial intelligence Omar Sultan Al Olama in February. Photo: Handout 

The government will take back a 32-hectare site on the Old Course in September, which includes 9.5 hectares earmarked for 12,000 public housing flats. Photo: Elson Li

John Lee waves to residents in Aberdeen as he campaigns for the top job in May last year. “Lee spends more time than Lam on seeking views before making decisions,” says one veteran senior civil servant. Photo: Dickson Lee 

John Lee with Legislative Council members at government headquarters. His approval ratings went from 53.8 per cent at the start of his term to a peak of 59.2 per cent in February. Photo: Dickson Lee

John Lee meets Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in November last year. Lee has been eager to establish new ties with leaders in Asean countries, among others. Photo: Pool photo

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‘It is a good way of relaxing myself and also keeping myself fit,’ John Lee tells the Post
City leader admits long hours have affected his family, especially his wife, who supports him ‘despite the fact that I’m not giving her the time that she deserves’


But city leader John Lee admits long hours have affected his family, especially his wife, who supports him ‘despite the fact that I’m not giving her the time that she deserves’.


Hong Kong society

Health & Fitness