Lam disclosed during a media interview in the past that she met her husband during a “joint-school event”, a common social activity between boys’ and girls’ colleges in Hong Kong.

The young couple soon got married and Lam became a housewife to raise their two sons, Gilbert Lee Man-lung and Lee Man-chun, who are both now in their 40s. The older one is a senior bank executive, while the youngest is the director of an educational consultancy in Hong Kong and also heads a firm that operates kindergartens in mainland China.

Norman So Chung-ping, who was the two sons’ principal at Wan Yan College, Kowloon, recalled that Lee would occasionally drive to the school with his wife to pick up their children after class.

Lam remained out of the public eye for years until her husband was promoted to the role of security minister in 2017.

Along with the wives of three former and current chiefs of the disciplined services, Lam formed a band called the “Singing Girls” to perform at charity shows and elderly homes, serenading audiences with Canto-pop songs from the 1980s and 1990s.

The other members are the spouses of Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) head Simon Peh Yun-lu, former correctional services chief Sin Yat-kin and former fire services director Lo Chun-hung.

Lam, during an interview with her band in February 2019, months before Hong Kong’s anti-government protests began, said her husband had always been supportive of her performances.

“There was one time that a performance was held the day after a typhoon. My husband was busy with meetings, but he still rushed to the performance venue and secretly came to support me backstage. It was touching,” she said.

Lam also accompanied her husband to Government House in 2017, when he was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star, which is given to leading figures in public affairs or those who undertake voluntary work.

The former policeman, who often put on a stern face in media stand-ups during his time as a security minister, was always seen smiling when he went up to the stage presenting flowers to his wife during her charity performances.

Lee was also seen singing and drinking red wine together with Lam, her “bandmates” and her music teacher at a private event in 2017, according to social media posts, together with some of the heads of the city’s disciplined services.

The couple have lived in a 1,200 sq-ft flat at King’s Park Villa at Ho Man Tin, a middle-class private residential area since 1997. The property cost about HK$12 million (US$1.52 million) at the time and was a co-investment by Lee and his wife.

Before the purchase, the couple also jointly bought a flat in Laguna City, worth HK$5.2 million, back in 1995. The home was sold after two years for HK$7.25 million.

Lee gave up his British nationality when he was selected for the post of undersecretary for security in 2012, but it was not disclosed whether his wife had done the same. When questioned about it following his promotion to chief secretary last year, Lee said it was a private matter for his family.

Lam’s age and background also remain unknown, as is whether she will take posts in charitable organisations as several of her predecessors did. Many NGOs traditionally appoint the wife of the city leader to act as a patron or president.

According to the constitution of the Guides Association, the group is likely to invite her to become its president. The organisation for girls and young women has appointed the spouses of city leaders to the post since the 1930s, with the exception of Lam Siu-por, the husband of incumbent Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

Betty Tung Chiu Hung-ping, the wife of Hong Kong’s first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, took an active role in a string of charities and institutions, taking the reins from Lavender Patten, wife of the city’s last British governor, Chris Patten.

Former chief executives Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and Leung Chun-ying’s wives, Selina Tsang Pou Siu-mei and Regina Leung Tong Ching-yee, also took up community posts.

Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, a deputy director for Lee’s campaign office, described the chief executive-elect as a “down-to-earth man who loves his family and wife”.

Having Janet Lam appear on stage with Lee on Sunday was suggested by core members of his campaign office in the lead-up to the election, Wong said.

“Before election day, Mrs Lee never appeared in the campaign office. It’s also our first time seeing her on Sunday,” he said.

In his victory speech, Lee admitted he purposely kept his family away from the limelight.

“Although my family has supported me a lot, I still hope to keep the election to myself. Hong Kong is stabilising, but there are still some underlying destructive powers. I have a lot of tough work to do.

“I hope they won’t be affected by my work … I’m just doing what all fathers and husbands would do, loving my family and my wife,” he added.

Additional reporting from Gary Cheung