April 7, 2022
HONG KONG – Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu announced his intention on Wednesday to run for the upcoming Hong Kong chief executive election scheduled for May 8, after tendering his resignation the same day.
Meeting the media at the government’s headquarters, Lee said it has been a glory to serve the people of Hong Kong for over 40 years, and he will inform the public of his next move once he had obtained approval for his resignation from the central government.
John Lee said it has been a glory to serve the people of Hong Kong for over 40 years, and he will inform the public of his next move once he had obtained approval for his resignation from the central government
Lee thanked the current Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor for appointing him as the secretary for security in 2017 and chief secretary in 2021.
He also expressed gratitude to civil servants, the politically appointed team and organizations and groups with whom he had worked.
Lee will go on leave with immediate effect.
Lee, 64, joined the city’s police force in 1977 as a probationary inspector and become deputy police commissioner in 2010. He was appointed secretary for security in 2017 and was promoted to chief secretary in June 2021. Lee has held a variety of posts in the police force, including assistant commissioner (crime) and director of crime and security, and deputy commissioner (management).
Nominations for the chief executive race began on Sunday and will end on April 16. Candidates aspiring to contest the top job need to submit their applications in person to returning officers before 5 pm on April 14 as April 15 and 16 fall on public holidays.
The election will be the first CE election to be held after the city revamped its electoral system to ensure the city’s governing power is reserved for patriots only.
Lam said on Wednesday that she had received Lee’s resignation and submitted it to the central government in accordance with Article 48(5) of the Basic Law.