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‘What needs to be done will be’: Hong Kong’s next leader John Lee | Talking Post with Yonden Lhatoo
Exclusive | Incoming leader John Lee working on strategy to reopen Hong Kong border with mainland China, may reduce quarantine for arrivals
- John Lee concedes scrapping curbs may take time to achieve but says his administration can set interim goals towards that end
- He also reveals he plans to attend annual Apec leaders’ summit in Bangkok in November, despite being under US sanctions
Lee, who has been sanctioned by Washington since 2020 over his role in the implementation of Hong Kong’s national security law, said one of his goals was to personally travel to the next meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, of which the city has been a member since 1991.
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“We should talk about the attraction of Hong Kong, the appeal of Hong Kong to the international world. We are a very competitive, open society with opportunities. It is also to dispel all the badmouthing and fearmongering about the so-called erosion of freedoms and rights, which are protected by the Basic Law … and also that we have judicial independence,” he said.
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Too much ‘fearmongering’ about Hong Kong, says city’s next leader John Lee
On the pandemic front, Lee stressed the need to prioritise the full reopening of Hong Kong’s borders with the mainland for the resumption of trade and travel, but he also recognised the importance of the city’s connectivity with the rest of the world, describing such issues as being “close to my heart”.
“Whatever I do in Hong Kong, it will be seen as a very reasonable and practical plan to address the situation in Hong Kong, without bringing extra risk to the mainland at the same time,” Lee said.
“If we may not achieve that goal very quickly, are there interim goals that we can achieve? I am formulating different options, so that I hope there will be less inconvenience for travelling across the mainland boundary.”
Specifically, he promised to look at suggestions such as allowing incoming travellers to quarantine at home, or shortening the number of days they would have to spend isolating at designated hotels.
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Hong Kong has struggled to maintain its international connections amid tough travel restrictions while trying to follow the “dynamic-zero” Covid strategy adopted nationwide.
Arrivals in the city must undergo seven days of quarantine at designated hotels if they are double-vaccinated against Covid-19, and 14 if they are not.
“One thing I will do very quickly together with my secretary for health is a quick review, looking at statistics and figures to ascertain how we can achieve the best result with the least cost,” he said.
“The second thing is, what are possible interim measures and interim goals before we can reach the final goal? The quarantine period is causing inconvenience to travellers. Is there a way of addressing that inconvenience so that [we can] reduce it a little bit? These are options.”
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Hong Kong’s John Lee flags a possible review of hotel quarantine rules when he takes office
A source told the Post the interim arrangements could include point-to-point travel for individuals.
“It would be like a ‘closed-loop’ arrangement, where the person has some purpose for visiting,” the source said.
Hong Kong reported a two-month high of 1,447 Covid-19 infections on Wednesday.
Lee, 64, described himself as a “pragmatic person”, rather than the “hardliner” that some media outlets have taken to calling him over his role as security chief during the anti-government protest chaos of 2019.
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Elaborating on the “result-oriented” governance style he has promised, Lee said crisis management was a key area his new administration would have to improve.
“I will be looking at different contingency plans, ensure we have a high margin of safety,” he said, recalling the crisis the city found itself in when hit by a devastating fifth wave of infections earlier this year.
“In 24 hours, I must have, say, 5 per cent of the whole government come out to do this or do that. That is certainty, and that is also speed,” he said.
“My government will be willing to face up to the challenges that have been in existence for a long time. But I’m also pragmatic, so we will work hard to tackle the problems and we will tackle them step by step, so that eventually we will solve the problem.
“But how long will it take? I’ll try to make it short. But the plan and the direction is to solve the problem.”
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Hong Kong’s crisis-management capabilities an area to strengthen for city’s next leader John Lee
Asked if he would be the chief executive who could finally solve Hong Kong’s chronic shortage of affordable housing, Lee replied he would be the one to face the problem squarely and come up with solutions.
“We have to be realistic with what we are dealing with. It’s been many years that there have been shortages of supplies of public housing,” he said.
“I have asked my team that I will increase the speed, the efficiency and the quantity. I have to be pragmatic and tell people the truth. The actual picture is, we have been facing shortages for so many years. I have to build up the numbers and it does take time, but I will do it fast. I’ll make sure that my team will do it faster.
“I’m making new innovative ways to address this problem so that [getting something done] even one month earlier, or two weeks earlier, which means a lot to the people who want to change the environment.”
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“I will be making use of the action of doing a lot of things for the common good of society, for well being. Through this action of doing things that will benefit them, they can make their own judgement as to whether this is a good government,” he said.
“I want to build that trust through action and result, so that we will narrow the differences.”
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Hong Kong’s incoming leader John Lee plans to attend next Apec summit
Lee rejected concerns about Hong Kong’s freedoms following the imposition of the national security law, insisting the rule of law was protecting residents’ rights and the city’s courts would continue to ensure it.
He noted that a rule of law index compiled by the World Justice Project last year ranked Hong Kong 19th among 139 countries and regions, while the United States was placed 27th.
“A lot of countries, including the US, are behind us. Are you worried about rights and freedoms in those countries? Our rule of law is highly regarded and protects the residents. That’s the first thing we need to tell people,” he said.
“We need to build a consensus that freedom is not a blank cheque to contravene the law. Freedom means that everybody operates within the confines of the law so that you can enjoy the maximum freedom.”
