Chief Executive-elect John Lee Ka-chiu has opened up about his efforts to select ministers, revealing some candidates approached were deterred by possible foreign sanctions, while he had to turn down other names put forward to him.

Lee on Sunday confirmed on a radio programme he had someone in mind for the chief secretary position, the city’s No 2 spot, but declined to divulge a name as he did not want to put the individual under pressure. He also vowed to improve coordination among top officials and the measuring of public sentiment.