Hong Kong’s former deputy chief to hold news conference after resignation

Hong Kong Main Secretary for Administration John Lee show up at a news convention in Hong Kong, China, April 6, 2022. Lam Yik/Pool by way of REUTERS

HONG KONG, April 8 (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s previous deputy leader, John Lee, stated he will maintain a information conference on Saturday after China authorized his resignation as chief secretary of the world-wide fiscal hub.

Lee, 64, a previous deputy commissioner of law enforcement, resigned this 7 days after signalling his intention to contest a leadership election in Might for the city’s major job.

He mentioned on Friday that he would announce his “up coming go” to the press on Saturday but did not elaborate.

The former occupation law enforcement officer was promoted to Hong Kong’s 2nd most senior article in 2021 in a move that some political analysts explained indicated Beijing’s priorities for the previous British colony have been connected to protection somewhat than the economic climate.

A protection formal through Hong Kong’s frequently violent 2019 professional-democracy protests, Lee reported on Wednesday he experienced stepped down and prepared to stand in the election for Hong Kong leader on May well 8. go through additional

On Monday, embattled Hong Kong chief Carrie Lam, who has governed the Chinese-dominated city as a result of the unprecedented upheaval of anti-govt protests and COVID-19, claimed she would not seek a next 5-calendar year time period as the city’s chief govt.

Town leaders are chosen every single 5 years by a little election committee stacked with Beijing loyalists so whoever becomes the future leader will do so with Beijing’s tacit acceptance.

Given that the town reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997, there have been four main executives, all of whom have struggled to stability the democratic aspirations of some people with the vision of China’s Communist Celebration leaders.

Reporting By Clare Jim, Anne Marie Roantree and Greg Torode Enhancing by Robert Birsel

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