HK leadership candidate says one-horse race ‘not easy’

HONG KONG: The city’s former security chief said it was “not easy” to run as the only candidate to become its next leader, as he announced yesterday that he had secured enough nominations to enter the poll.

John Lee, 64, is expected to be anointed Hong Kong’s new chief executive by a committee of 1,500 Beijing loyalists next month.

Hong Kong media have widely reported that Lee will, at Beijing’s request, face no rivals in the election.

Lee officially registered his candidacy with the city’s election watchdog yesterday with 786 nominations from the committee.

That number surpasses the legal threshold needed for him to win the May 8 poll.

Asked by a reporter whether he faced an easier journey without rivals, Lee said: “It is not easy because I have been working very hard to explain to various members what my election platform will be like.”

Lee has yet to publicly release a manifesto or any concrete policies, although he said one was on the way.

“It has just been a few days since I announced to stand for the election. “Writing the platform needs time.” The nomination period closes on Saturday.

When announcing his bid last week, Lee gave three broad priorities for his government: enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness, being “results-orientated” and consolidating the city’s further development.

He has since shuttled between various pro-government groups and held five online conferences with the Election Committee members to gather support.

“I think members agree with these three directions.

“That is why they have given me the nomination but it is a hard effort.”

Former Hong Kong Economic Journal chief editor Chan King-cheung wrote in a newspaper column yesterday that Lee should still explain to the public what his policies are, even though ordinary residents do not get to vote.

“To say ‘result-oriented’ without defining the result is so vague and empty that the ‘voters’ can’t tell what promises he has actually made.”