Hong Kong News
Nonpartisan, Noncommercial, unconstrained.
Saturday, Feb 22, 2025
Real, Diverse, Unbiased.
John Lee secures enough support to join CE election, tight-lipped about Beijing's blessing
Chief executive hopeful John Lee Ka-chiu has secured about 300 nominations, though only 188 are required to run on May 8.
But his campaign office is chasing a bigger show of support from Election Committee members, with a target of around 500 nominations.
Lee, 64, a former chief secretary for administration, secured some 200 nominations in less than nine hours on Sunday to go with 100 obtained earlier. He said in the evening that the 300 included the required 15 committee members from each of its five sectors.
According to the electoral changes drafted by Beijing in March, a candidate must obtain at least 188 nominations from the 1,463-member committee tasked with overseeing the appointment of an SAR leader.
Among the nominations, Lee "sincerely" thanked former chief executive Leung Chun-ying for nominating him. Lee also said he was grateful for all the members who supported him and vowed to take into account their opinions for his manifesto.
Lee's team has also complied with anti-Covid regulations and so many of his campaign activities have gone online, including two video conferences with committee members, with 130 taking part.
"They all spoke enthusiastically during the meeting and for the sectors they represent," Lee said. "Their opinions have a very high reference value and will help me massively in writing my manifesto." And all the committee members participating in the meetings supported him.
Lee added that the new administration will take a lead in solving problems, while much also rested on reuniting society and working together to succeed.
But Lee remained tight-lipped on whether he had announced he was bidding for the chief executive's job after being Beijing's go-ahead at a meeting in Shenzhen this month.
“I have already told you what I can tell you [about the meeting]," he said to the media. "I will not repeat that any more."
Earlier on Sunday Leung had gone to Central Plaza and handed his nomination to Lee's campaign office in person.
Eliza Chan Ching-har, a deputy director of Lee's campaign, quoted Leung as saying he would support Lee’s election fully, though Leung himself did not take any questions from the media at Central Plaza.
“Leung handing his nomination to us in person as an act to show absolute support toward Lee’s election campaign,” Chan said.
Apart from Leung, other committee members were also spotted handing nominations at the campaign office on Sunday. Among them was Anthony Wu Ting-yuk, a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference standing committee. In doing so he said Lee is “practical and approachable” and willing to communicate with citizens.
“I believe he will be able to mend the cracks in our society," Wu said. "I will gladly provide assistance and advice if he needs it."
Nick Chan Hiu-fung, a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress, was another who showed up at Central Plaza. He said Lee becoming chief executive would be beneficial to Hong Kong as he would make the well-being of Hongkongers his first priority.
“Hong Kong needs a responsible and patriotic leader in times of an international crisis,” Chan added.
Margaret Leung Ko May-yee, the managing director of Chong Hing Bank, said she has known Lee for more than 10 years and decided to support him after listening to his election platform on Saturday.
“I especially liked the part where he said he would resolve issues based on a results-oriented approach,” she said.
She added that she was not worried that Lee not having a financial background would be disadvantageous to the business sector. For a good leader would know about there being “horses for courses,” and she believed Lee would form an appropriate governing team.
Allen Shi Lop-tak, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, said he was confident Lee would “lead Hong Kong into a new chapter.”
Three legislators from the SAR’s biggest party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, also went to Central Place to hand their nominations in personally on Sunday. They were party vice chairman Holden Chow Ho-ding and members Elizabeth Quat Pui-fan and Steven Ho Chun-yin.
Chow could not say if the DAB would be backing Lee unanimously, explaining: “I believe Election Committee members will make their own decisions.”
Lee, 64, a former chief secretary for administration, secured some 200 nominations in less than nine hours on Sunday to go with 100 obtained earlier. He said in the evening that the 300 included the required 15 committee members from each of its five sectors.
According to the electoral changes drafted by Beijing in March, a candidate must obtain at least 188 nominations from the 1,463-member committee tasked with overseeing the appointment of an SAR leader.
Among the nominations, Lee "sincerely" thanked former chief executive Leung Chun-ying for nominating him. Lee also said he was grateful for all the members who supported him and vowed to take into account their opinions for his manifesto.
Lee's team has also complied with anti-Covid regulations and so many of his campaign activities have gone online, including two video conferences with committee members, with 130 taking part.
"They all spoke enthusiastically during the meeting and for the sectors they represent," Lee said. "Their opinions have a very high reference value and will help me massively in writing my manifesto." And all the committee members participating in the meetings supported him.
Lee added that the new administration will take a lead in solving problems, while much also rested on reuniting society and working together to succeed.
But Lee remained tight-lipped on whether he had announced he was bidding for the chief executive's job after being Beijing's go-ahead at a meeting in Shenzhen this month.
“I have already told you what I can tell you [about the meeting]," he said to the media. "I will not repeat that any more."
Earlier on Sunday Leung had gone to Central Plaza and handed his nomination to Lee's campaign office in person.
Eliza Chan Ching-har, a deputy director of Lee's campaign, quoted Leung as saying he would support Lee’s election fully, though Leung himself did not take any questions from the media at Central Plaza.
“Leung handing his nomination to us in person as an act to show absolute support toward Lee’s election campaign,” Chan said.
Apart from Leung, other committee members were also spotted handing nominations at the campaign office on Sunday. Among them was Anthony Wu Ting-yuk, a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference standing committee. In doing so he said Lee is “practical and approachable” and willing to communicate with citizens.
“I believe he will be able to mend the cracks in our society," Wu said. "I will gladly provide assistance and advice if he needs it."
Nick Chan Hiu-fung, a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress, was another who showed up at Central Plaza. He said Lee becoming chief executive would be beneficial to Hong Kong as he would make the well-being of Hongkongers his first priority.
“Hong Kong needs a responsible and patriotic leader in times of an international crisis,” Chan added.
Margaret Leung Ko May-yee, the managing director of Chong Hing Bank, said she has known Lee for more than 10 years and decided to support him after listening to his election platform on Saturday.
“I especially liked the part where he said he would resolve issues based on a results-oriented approach,” she said.
She added that she was not worried that Lee not having a financial background would be disadvantageous to the business sector. For a good leader would know about there being “horses for courses,” and she believed Lee would form an appropriate governing team.
Allen Shi Lop-tak, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, said he was confident Lee would “lead Hong Kong into a new chapter.”
Three legislators from the SAR’s biggest party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, also went to Central Place to hand their nominations in personally on Sunday. They were party vice chairman Holden Chow Ho-ding and members Elizabeth Quat Pui-fan and Steven Ho Chun-yin.
Chow could not say if the DAB would be backing Lee unanimously, explaining: “I believe Election Committee members will make their own decisions.”
