Hong Kong Chief Executive-designate John Lee attends a news conference with his newly appointed cabinet, including Financial Secretary, Paul Chan Mo-po, incoming Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki and incoming Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok in Hong Kong, China, June 19, 2022. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
HONG KONG 鈥� Hong Kong鈥檚 incoming leader John Lee has announced a cabinet that includes a number of officials with a background in security, calling it a 鈥渞esults-oriented鈥� governing team that will usher in a new chapter after protracted pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Lee has spoken of national security being his 鈥渇undamental mission,鈥� as well as the need to restore Hong Kong鈥檚 international status and ease an entrenched housing supply problem that has fueled the city鈥檚 astronomical housing prices.
The following are some details on several incoming senior officials.
John Lee, 64, incoming Chief Executive
A former top policeman turned civil servant, Lee oversaw the city鈥檚 security policies during mass pro-democracy protests in 2019. He has pledged to maintain a firm grip on the city under a national security law, in line with China鈥檚 sovereign interests.
Lee and several of his top officials, including incoming Chief Secretary Eric Chan, security chief Chris Tang and Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang have backgrounds in either the security or disciplinary services, and have been sanctioned by the U.S. government.
The new administration will take office on July 1.
The United States and other countries, including Britain, have criticized the crackdown that has jailed many of Hong Kong鈥檚 opposition figures, shuttered civil society groups and media outlets, as well as narrowed free speech.
Lee has described the sanctions as acts of 鈥渂ullying countries鈥�.
鈥淥verall, the security personnel play a crucial role in this cabinet which is unprecedented in Hong Kong鈥檚 political history,鈥� said political commentator Sonny Lo.
鈥淚t shows the priority assigned by the central government to national security in Hong Kong.鈥�
Eric Chan, 63, Chief Secretary
Chan is the former head of office for Hong Kong鈥檚 outgoing leader Carrie Lam and considered a trusted intermediary to Beijing. Having served as an immigration chief and then as Lam鈥檚 top aide, Chan enjoys close ties to mainland officials and is known as a skilled coordinator able to bring together disparate parties on complex issues. Chan was also sanctioned by the U.S. government in 2020 for undermining the former British colony鈥檚 autonomy.
Paul Chan, 67, Financial Secretary
Chan continues with the job that he has held since 2017. A veteran accountant, the reappointment of Chan, who hasn鈥檛 been sanctioned, was welcomed by some in the financial sector.
鈥淗aving Paul Chan stay on calmed a lot of nerves,鈥� said Kher Sheng Lee, the Asia Pacific co-head of the Alternative Investment Management Association.
鈥淲e鈥檙e happy that he鈥檚 back and the next three to four months is going to be an opportunity to re-set and reframe the conversation about the future of Hong Kong.鈥�
Paul Lam, 54, Secretary for Justice
Lam, a former head of the Bar Association and a veteran commercial barrister, is widely expected to continue to oversee the tough prosecutorial approach of his predecessor, Teresa Cheng, against opposition figures, activists and protesters.
鈥淚t is hard to see Lam rocking the boat now the national security trajectory has been set鈥� that is not his style,鈥� said one barrister who knows Lam but declined to be named.
Lam is not under sanction and is expected to promote Hong Kong鈥檚 legal system internationally, working under a leader who has repeatedly condemned international criticism of Hong Kong鈥檚 rule of law since the sweeping national security legislation.
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