Political, business leaders support John Lee’s CE bid

Chief Executive hopeful John Lee has stressed the need to garner support for his policy initiatives and forge a consensus in society as he continued to meet with Election Committee members on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the former chief secretary submitted his bid for the top job after securing the backing of 786 members of the 1,500-strong Election Committee, among them the city’s political heavyweights and business leaders.

That far exceeds the 188 nominations required to stand in the next month’s election. It also represents more than half of the members of the Election Committee tasked with choosing Hong Kong’s next leader.

“How many nominations I can get, of course, is a very pleasant thing to know. But what is important is that I should create the maximum consensus, so that my governance will be shared and supported by the majority of the people,” Lee said at an evening media session.

He also thanked his family for their support. “I am very grateful to my family. They support me in this election. I love my family, I don’t think I need to tell them I love them every day.”

Lee held two more virtual meetings in the afternoon with around 100 people to discuss land and housing supply as well as labour issues.

During a meeting with unionist Election Committee members that was available for public viewing, Lee was urged to improve labour policies, provide regular jobless assistance and narrow the wealth gap, among other suggestions.

Among the 786 Election Committee members who’ve endorsed Lee so far include CPPCC vice chairman and former chief executive CY Leung and CPPCC Standing Committee member and former chief secretary Henry Tang, as well as property tycoons such as CK Asset chairman Victor Li and Sun Hung Kai Properties chairman Raymond Kwok.

Lee, who has a police background, also received the nominations from former police commissioners Tang King-shing and Andy Tsang, and former security chiefs Regina Ip and Lai Tung-kwok, both from the New People’s Party.

Non-establishment legislator and Election Committee member Tik Chi-yuen is among those who have not nominated Lee. Tik said he would wait for the CE hopeful’s election manifesto before deciding whether to support him.

In a statement, the government said the returning officer of the election, Justice Keith Yeung, has received Lee’s nomination form.

It added that a vetting committee will announce the list of validated candidates within seven days after the nomination period ends on Thursday.