Profile of former police officer John Lee, the only contender in Hong Kong's leadership race

Record ID: 1671647

  • Title: Profile of former police officer John Lee, the only contender in Hong Kong's leadership race
  • Date: 4th April 2022
  • Summary: As Hong Kong's then Secretary for Security, John Lee in 2019 played a key role in spearheading a contentious proposed extradition law that divided Hong Kong society and triggered mass protests. While presenting the bill in the Legislative Council in April 2019, Lee was interrupted by pan-democrat opposition lawmakers who shouted and submitted procedural questions. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - APRIL 3, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION IN PROGRESS HONG KONG'S THEN SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, JOHN LEE, BEING INTERRUPTED BY OPPOSITION PROTESTERS SHOUTING / PROTESTERS WALKING IN OPPOSITION PAN-DEMOCRAT POLITICIAN SHOUTING WHILE HITTING TABLE On June 2021, Lee said the dawn arrests of five executives from pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily were in relation to a "conspiracy" where the suspects tried to use journalistic work to collude with foreign countries. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - JUNE 17, 2021) (REUTERS) LEE WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE LEE ADDRESSING PRESS SAYING THAT THE CASE CONCERNING PRO-DEMOCRACY TABLOID APPLE DAILY INVOLVING A CONSPIRACY Lee was promoted to Chief Secretary in 2021, the second most powerful role in the government. Some political analysts said this move signalled Beijing's priorities for the city were related to security rather than finance or the economy. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - JUNE 25, 2021) (REUTERS) HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE CARRIE LAM (SECOND FROM RIGHT), NEWLY MINTED CHIEF SECRETARY LEE, SECURITY SECRETARY CHRIS TANG (FIRST FROM RIGHT) AND POLICE COMMISSIONER RAYMOND SIU ARRIVING (FIRST FROM LEFT) VARIOUS OF LAM, LEE, TANG AND SIU POSING FOR PHOTOS MEDIA SEATED LEE TALKING ABOUT HOW HONG KONG HAS TURNED FROM CHAOS TO STABILITY SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HONG KONG NATIONAL SECURITY LAW
  • Embargoed: 18th April 2022 06:53
  • Keywords: Anti-extradition treaty Apple Daily Chief Executive election China Hong Kong Protests
  • Location: HONG KONG, CHINA / INTERNET
  • City: HONG KONG, CHINA / INTERNET
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA001919203042022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: John Lee, Hong Kong's sole candidate to become its next leader, has said the city will start a new chapter under his leadership and that his focus will be on enhancing the city's competitiveness and increasing the housing supply.
    Lee, 64, a career security specialist and former deputy commissioner of police, is expected to be appointed Hong Kong's chief executive in a selection process on May 8, with the backing of Beijing.
    Lee is due to take over as the former British colony's chief executive on July 1, replacing Carrie Lam who is stepping down at the end of her first term. Critics have blamed Lam for mishandling crises including anti-government protests in 2019 and COVID-19.
    Lam previously announced she would not seek a second term, citing family considerations.
    Lee is a former Hong Kong security chief and deputy police commissioner who was known as an anglophile during British colonial rule. In recent years, he has been forceful in enacting China's harsher security regimen - with scores of democrats arrested, jailed or forced into exile, civil society groups forced to disband, and liberal media outlets raided by police and shuttered.
    Hong Kong selects a leader every five years under a process that Beijing oversees behind the scenes. Since the city reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997, there have been four chief executives, all of whom have struggled to balance the democratic aspirations of some residents with the vision of China's Communist Party leaders.
    (Production: Aleksander Solum, Lee Ying Shan)
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