On anniversary of Hong Kong handover, John Lee vows to be a ‘reformer’

Hong Kong’s leader has vowed his team will be “reformers” that rise to challenges rather than becoming “complacent idlers” in the face of economic restructuring and geopolitical tensions, as he enters his fourth year in office.

In a speech to mark the 28th anniversary of the city’s handover to Chinese rule, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also laid down three priorities in his governance: boosting development backed by security; expediting the Northern Metropolis megaproject near the border with mainland China; and improving residents’ livelihoods.

Lee said he had full confidence in Hong Kong’s development, as long as the city was committed to fully seizing opportunities, undertaking reforms and fostering innovation.

He cited a Chinese saying that describes a hard task becoming easy with determined efforts and an easy task getting difficult with inaction.

“We would rather be reformers who rise to challenges than become complacent idlers,” Lee declared at the reception held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

“Amid an ever-changing geopolitical landscape and constantly increasing uncertainties, Hong Kong is able to showcase exactly to the world the certainties of safety, stability and development opportunities. These are precisely what the world needs and seeks.”