The former Hong Kong security chief responsible for implementing the harsh crackdown on the local pro-democracy movement was named the island’s new leader on Sunday morning by an electoral committee made up mostly of supporters of the Beijing regime.
John Lee, 64, was the only candidate to succeed Carrie Lam, the current chief executive who, in early April, announced that she would not run for re-election. Number two in the local government, Lee now becomes the first security officer to assume leadership of the territory over which the Chinese regime has advanced in recent years.
The electoral committee that indirectly elected him has 1,461 members, most of them from political and business elites loyal to Beijing — equivalent to 0.02% of the Hong Kong population of 7.4 million people. It received support from 1,416 members, while only eight chose not to support it. The rest did not vote in the election.
After the result, the security official said it was a “historic mission” to lead a new chapter for Hong Kong and pledged to unite the city and preserve its international status as an open and competitive financial hub. “I understand that it will take some time to convince the population; but I can do it through action,” he said.
Western governments, including the United States, say civil liberties and the rule of law were undermined by security legislation imposed by Beijing two years ago. Lee, however, reiterated the view that the devices in place are needed to “restore stability”.
“Saving our country’s sovereignty, national security and development interests, and protecting Hong Kong from internal and external threats and ensuring its stability will continue to be of paramount importance,” the new Hong Kong leader told reporters.
The European Union (EU), through its head of diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that Lee’s appointment to the post violates democratic principles and political pluralism. “The EU considers this another step in dismantling the ‘one country, two systems’ principle,” the Spaniard said in a statement.
He was referring to the regime of autonomy enshrined in the so-called Basic Law, which stipulated the Hong Kong system as an island of unregulated capitalism, a free judiciary and a free press. After the massive pro-democracy demonstrations that took to the streets of the island in 2019, however, the Chinese communist regime instituted the National Security Law, effectively ending the established regime of autonomy.
“The EU asks the authorities in China and Hong Hong to respect national and international commitments, especially the aim of electing a chief executive and members of the Legislative Council through universal suffrage,” added the Spaniard.
The island’s legislative election, held in December, was marked by low turnout. In the election, pro-democracy candidates were absent due to an electoral reform promoted by Beijing – only those considered “patriots” by China could run.
Policing was reinforced on the island on Sunday, with security agents preventing a small group of protesters from approaching the administrative buildings. Hong Kong ceased to be a British colony and was returned to the Chinese in 1997.
