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In the wake of President Xi Jinping’s address, it is incumbent upon the city to uphold national security while allowing room for opposition and meaningful checks and balances.
The non-official members of the chief executive’s cabinet must work closely with John Lee Ka-chiu and others to tackle a wide range of problems facing Hong Kong. But gone are the days when they can just walk the corridors of power and make decisions behind closed doors
Incoming chief executive John Lee and the key members of his new government carry the high hopes of Beijing and the people of Hong Kong to improve governance and livelihoods, but the tasks ahead will not be easy.
Hong Kong’s incoming leader, John Lee, has the support of the central government and little to no opposition at home, but his “to do” list is long and onerous.
It would be odd for both sides to keep up any pretence of maintaining a distance, as political practices over time have changed.
Unionists hope to be able to convince Chief Executive John Lee, who only took office last Friday, to overturn the offer of an across-the-board pay rise of 2.5 per cent.
Lee’s campaign expenses totalled HK$9.1 million, of which HK$2.7 million was spent on election rallies and HK$754,000 on Facebook advertisements.
Ip, 71, is the first woman convenor of Executive Council, and first with political affiliation, since Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule.
Among 21 key figures, seven are from incumbent administration, two have been promoted from undersecretary, six are serving or recently retired civil servants, and another six are newcomers.
They will be required to isolate for one week leading up to the July 1 celebrations as part of security arrangements to protect dignitaries, possibly including a Chinese state leader, insiders say.
Lee ran advertisements with three public figures’ endorsement on Facebook campaign page but failed to upload electronic copies of trio’s written consent of support within one working day of ads’ publication.
Six anti-riot armoured vehicles dubbed ‘saber-toothed tigers’ to be on standby, as well as elite squads, says police chief.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam, ministers among those to be prevented from meeting outsiders for a week before possible mainland Chinese state leader’s visit.
Lee must undergo two days of quarantine in Beijing under a ‘closed-loop’ system before his expected meeting with state leaders on Monday, sources say.
Sources say Lee will travel to the capital later this month to receive letter of appointment and present his choice for a team for approval.
Chief executive-elect says he also has someone in mind for No 2 position, but declines to reveal identity of the person.
State media reports remarks made by Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference at Beijing meeting.
Source in Lee’s campaign team says decision was made before YouTube terminated candidate’s channel to comply with US sanction laws.
Readers discuss voting in Hong Kong, the handling of Covid-positive travellers’ luggage, the closure of saunas, and the task facing John Lee.
Readers discuss the rules-based order, the EU’s response to John Lee’s election, cuts to welfare in Hong Kong’s latest budget, and the logic of hotel quarantine.
Group of Seven nations and European Union attack the vote on Sunday as undermining political pluralism in Hong Kong, but Beijing and winner John Lee defend the process as a democratic representation of broad interests.
Chief executive-elect John Lee thanked his wife Janet Lam for ‘looking after the family’ as he clinched the vote for city’s leader on Sunday.
Lee meets outgoing leader Carrie Lam, chief justice and Legco president, as well as heads of liaison office, national security office, and foreign ministry office.
Lee is blessed by Beijing and endorsed by the Election Committee, but can he succeed in winning over Hongkongers?