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Hong Kong’s former No. 2 official John Lee has formally declared his candidacy for the upcoming management election, getting into the race for chief government seen by many as Beijing’s most popular candidate
HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s former No. 2 official John Lee on Saturday formally declared his candidacy for the upcoming management election, getting into the race for chief government seen by many as Beijing’s most popular candidate.
Lee stated at a web-based information convention that he would stand for the election on Might 8 after the Chinese language authorities permitted his resignation, which he submitted final week, as town’s chief secretary for administration.
He stated a brand new authorities below his management would safeguard the rule of legislation and the “one nation, two programs” framework within the metropolis that enables Hong Kong to control semi-autonomously and revel in sure freedoms not present in mainland China.
“This determination is made out of my loyalty to my nation, my love for Hong Kong, and my sense of responsibility to the Hong Kong folks,” Lee stated.
Lee’s candidacy comes after present chief Carrie Lam introduced she wouldn’t run for a second time period, following a rocky 5 years in energy that spanned the COVID-19 pandemic, a crackdown on political freedoms and Beijing’s fast and rising affect over the territory.
Lee, 64, is a staunch advocate of town’s nationwide safety legislation, which has been used since 2020 to focus on pro-democracy activists, supporters and media, diminishing freedoms promised to Hong Kong throughout Britain’s handover to China in 1997.
Consultants within the metropolis see a possible administration below Lee as a sign that Beijing may additional tighten its grip on the semi-autonomous Chinese language metropolis.
The chief government will likely be voted in by an election committee of about 1,500 folks, a majority of whom are pro-Beijing. The brand new chief will take workplace on July 1.
Lee spent the early years of his civil service profession as a police officer and steadily climbed the ranks. He turned Hong Kong’s safety minister in July 2017 below Lam’s administration, and final June was promoted to chief secretary for administration.
Lee was a key determine in proposing contentious laws in 2019 that may have allowed suspects in Hong Kong to be extradited to mainland China. He later oversaw a police crackdown on demonstrators after the proposed invoice sparked months of huge anti-government protests in 2019.
After the protests have been snuffed out, Lee was an outspoken supporter of the nationwide safety legislation imposed on town, which outlaws subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with overseas forces within the metropolis’s affairs and has been used to suppress dissent. Over 150 folks have been arrested for the reason that legislation was carried out.
In 2020, the U.S sanctioned Lee, along with Lam and different Hong Kong and mainland Chinese language authorities officers, for “undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and limiting the liberty of expression or meeting.”
Subsequent month’s election would be the first since Hong Kong’s electoral legal guidelines have been amended final 12 months to make sure that solely “patriots” loyal to Beijing can maintain workplace. The adjustments make it tough for pro-democracy supporters to run for chief government.
Hong Kong’s chief is chosen each 5 years, though the choice course of is fastidiously orchestrated behind the scenes by Beijing. The 4 chief executives chosen since Hong Kong’s handover have all been candidates seen as favored by Beijing.
Lee stated he would focus policymaking on guaranteeing that Hong Kong stays aggressive globally and “bolster its position as a gateway and bridge between our nation and the world.”
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