Lee seeks better integration with China

HONG KONG: John Lee, named Hong Kong’s next chief executive in a rubber-stamp election that’s been criticised as unfair, vowed to strengthen national security and accelerate the city’s integration with mainland China.

Speaking in Cantonese and English shortly after his victory was announced, the former police official and security minister outlined his service to China and Hong Kong and said his new job calls for accountability to both Beijing and the city. His administration will continue to uphold the rule of law, which is a “core pillar of sound governance,” he said on Sunday.

“Safeguarding our country’s sovereignty, national security and development interests, protecting Hong Kong from internal and external threats and ensuring its stability will continue to be of paramount importance,”

he told reporters at the Hong Kong convention and exhibition centre, the election venue.

Lee, 64, served on the police force for more than three decades before joining the security ministry, epitomising China’s

focus on national security after a wave of massive and sometimesviolent democracy protests in 2019. Sunday’s ballot was the city’s first to be held in more than two decades without at least a nominal contest. Lee was the only candidate put forward to an election committee revamped by Beijing in 2021 to stack more pro-establishment members.

The changes to the system made it all but impossible for an opposition candidate to compete, while the Communist Party’s endorsement of Lee rendered his victory a fait accompli. Out of the 1,424 valid votes cast by electors, Lee won 1,416 -more than the simple majority needed to confirm his appointment. Eight electors voted against him, while four ballots were declared invalid. The voting process drew criticism from the EU, which called on Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to abide by their national and international commitments.