Xi: Hong Kong’s New Leader Opens A New Chapter

Chinese President Xi Jinping thinks John Lee as Hong Kong’s new leader will create “a new chapter in the region’s development”. The former security chief visited the central government in Beijing in preparation for his new position.

Xi has told Lee that the new regional leader has the full confidence of the Beijing government. According to the president, Lee brings a “new atmosphere” and has the “courage to take responsibility,” according to the state news agency Xinhua.

In addition, Lee is praised for “ensuring the national security and the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong”. As security chief, he oversaw the police and government crackdown on pro-democracy activists during the massive protests in 2019. Lee succeeds the controversial Carrie Lam.

Lee will start his new position on July 1, the 25th anniversary of the British handover of Hong Kong to China. c. Because of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, Hong Kong residents have more freedoms than mainland Chinese, but these have already been severely curtailed under Lam’s leadership by Beijing.