Hong Kong’s John Lee vows to ‘confront challenges’, shun complacency

Hong Kong’s leader has said his administration is committed to being “reformers who confront challenges, rather than those who complacently avoid improvement”, while pledging to pursue change and explore new markets to take the city to fresh heights.

In a video posted on his social media accounts on Sunday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also elaborated on the themes behind a series of clips aimed at setting the tone for each coming year of his administration, indicating there would be a change in focus.

The first of the videos, published in 2023, saw him surveying the city from The Peak and highlighting the importance of “farsightedness” in governance, as noted by his special assistant, Jenny Wong Tsz-yuen, who appeared in the production.

The 2024 clip featured Lee taking a ferry across Victoria Harbour, symbolising the need for the Hong Kong government to “ride the wind and waves” to overcome challenges effectively.

Two videos were released on Sunday to set the tone for another year in office. The footage involved him watching butterflies in the Hong Kong Wetland Park and piloting a simulated drone at the City Gallery exhibition.

Titled “From Cocoon to Butterfly: Reaching New Heights”, the videos underscored the government’s focus on ambitious reforms in the coming year.