Jump to content

John Lee Ka-chiu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by BengalBob (talk | contribs) at 10:55, 3 May 2022 (education, link and simplify). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

In this Hong Kong name, the surname is Lee. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is John Lee and the Chinese-style name is Lee Ka-chiu.
John Lee
SBS PDSM PMSM
李家超
Lee in 2021
8th Chief Secretary for Administration
In office
25 June 2021 – 7 April 2022
Chief ExecutiveCarrie Lam
Preceded byMatthew Cheung
5th Secretary for Security
In office
1 July 2017 – 25 June 2021
Chief ExecutiveCarrie Lam
Preceded byLai Tung-kwok
Succeeded byChris Tang
2nd Under Secretary for Security
In office
1 October 2012 – 1 July 2017
SecretaryLai Tung-kwok
Preceded byLai Tung-kwok
Succeeded bySonny Au
Personal details
Born
Lee Ka-chiu

(1957-12-07) 7 December 1957 (age 67)
British Hong Kong
Nationality
Spouse
​
(m. 1980)​
Children
  • Gilbert Lee Man-lung
  • Lee Man-chun
Residence(s)Flat A, 5/F, Block 2, King's Park Villa, 1 King's Park Rise, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon
EducationWah Yan College, Kowloon
Alma materCharles Sturt University (MPPA)
Signature
Police career
DepartmentHong Kong Police Force
Service years1977–2012
RankDeputy Commissioner of Police (Management)
Awards
John Lee Ka-chiu
Chinese李家超
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Jiāchāo
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationLéih Gā Chīu
JyutpingLei5 Gaa1 Ciu1

John Lee Ka-chiu, SBS, PDSM, PMSM (Chinese: 李家超; born 7 December 1957) is a Hong Kong politician and former police officer. Lee previously served as Chief Secretary for Administration (the most senior principal official in Hong Kong government) from 2021 to 2022, Secretary for Security from 2017 to 2021, Under Secretary for Security from 2012 to 2017, Deputy Commissioner of Police from 2010 to 2012. Lee is the sole candidate who had the blessing by Xi Jinping’s central government in the 2022 Hong Kong Chief Executive election, communicated by the Liaison Office.[1][2]

Early life

Lee studied in Wah Yan College between 1970 and 1977, and was said to be a diligent student.[3]

Career

Police officer

On 15 August 1977,[4] at the age of 19, Lee joined the Royal Hong Kong Police Force as a probationary inspector. He became a Chief Inspector on 11 May 1984.[5] He became Chief Superintendent in 1997, Assistant Commissioner in 2003, senior assistant commissioner in 2007 and Deputy Commissioner in 2010. Having served in a wide range of operational duties, including the CID, Complaints Against Police, Service Quality, Personnel, Training, Information Systems, Finance, Policies Formulation, Planning and Development, Lee had been the Commander of Kowloon West Region, Assistant Commissioner (Crime) and Director of Crime and Security, and Deputy Commissioner (Management).[6]

During his tenure as a police officer, Lee was known to have obtained a master's degree in Public Policy and Administration from Charles Sturt University in Australia under a self-learning programme sponsored by the force.[7][8]

Security Bureau

Lee was appointed Under Secretary for Security in 2012 by chief executive Leung Chun-ying[7] and promoted to Secretary for Security in July 2017 in Carrie Lam's administration.

In 2019, Lee was a key figure in pushing for the 2019 Hong Kong extradition bill.[9]

On 3 July 2020, the Chinese state-run Xinhua News Agency stated that the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was formally established. There were 10 members of the committee. As the Secretary for Security of Hong Kong, Lee was a member of the committee.[10]

In October 2020, Lee told Shenzhen Satellite TV in an interview that he was thankful for Beijing pushing through the National Security Law.[11]

In December 2020, Lee defended the freezing of bank accounts belonging to former legislator Ted Hui, and said that other bank accounts, including those of suspect's relatives, could be frozen if they were believed to be related to a crime.[12]

In January 2021, after the arrest of 53 pro-democracy figures, Lee stated to the Legislative Council that they were arrested for "subverting state power."[13] Lee also stated that "The Security Bureau strongly reaffirms and fully supports the Police's operation, which is resolute and professional."[14] In addition, Lee stated that the opposition figures' attempts were "evil" and meant to "overthrow" the government.[15]

On 15 January 2021, Lee said that the new National Security Law would include police surveillance of communications, potentially giving the police more power to intercept and read communications.[16]

In April 2021, Lee said that Hong Kong's disciplined services would adopt PLA-style marching in order to demonstrate "nationalistic sentiments" and to "strengthen awareness of national security."[17]

Chief Secretary

On 25 June 2021, the HKSAR Government announced that the State Council has on the recommendation of the Chief Executive appointed Lee as Chief Secretary for Administration,[18] making him the third former police officer after William Caine, the founding head of the Hong Kong Police Force who served as Colonial Secretary from 1846 to 1854, and Francis Henry May, Captain Superintendent of the Police Force from 1893 to 1901 and Colonial Secretary from 1902 to 1911, to have taken this role as the most senior minister in government.

In January 2022, after the arrest of employees from Stand News, Lee said that US media groups should support law enforcement, claiming that "If you are genuinely interested in press freedom, you should support actions against people who have unlawfully exploited the media as a tool to pursue their political or personal gains".[19]

On 4 March 2022, Lee invoked emergency regulation to announce the construction of a bridge linking Hong Kong with Shenzhen; however, satellite images showed that construction appeared to have began 5 days before Lee had invoked the emergency regulation.[20] The border is drawn at the halfway point in the Shenzhen River, and photos show that a barge was on the Hong Kong side on 27 February 2022.[20] On the day of the emergency regulation was announced, photos show that the bridge was past the halfway point on Hong Kong's side, extending just meters away from Hong Kong land.[20]

On 6 April 2022, Lee resigned and planned to join the 2022 Chief Executive election. His resignation was approved by the State Council of China on the following day. [21]

2022 Chief Executive election bid

Main article: 2022 Hong Kong Chief Executive election

Lee formally announced his candidacy for the 2022 Hong Kong Chief Executive election on 9 April 2022[22] despite the Liaison Office having said that Lee would be the only candidate given permission by Beijing to be Chief Executive three days earlier.[23] Lee's campaign manager, Tam Yiu-chung, revealed that Lee would develop a political manifesto by the end of April.[24] Tam later claimed that the political manifesto would not be key for the public to support Lee.[25] Lee dismissed criticism that Election Committee members were nominating him without seeing his manifesto, claiming that the Election Committee members already knew him and could trust him.[26]

On 12 April 2022, Lee stated that implementing security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law would be a top priority for him.[27] Despite having no competitors in the election, Lee said that the election run was "not easy".[28]

FactWire reported that Lee's two sons (Gilbert Lee and Jacky Lee) have business relationships with Election Committee members, but Lee said there was no conflict of interest.[29] In the report, FactWire said that Gilbert Lee's direct manager is Diana Ferreira Cesar, who sits on the finance subsector of the Election Committee. Additionally, Jacky Lee is a business partner of Li Sing-tui, an ex-officio member of the Election Committee.[30]

For Lee's election forum, seven media stations will cohost the broadcast, with one politician criticizing plans for it, stating that questions are restricted, with no audience member interaction, and the forum being pre-recorded rather than live.[31]

Were he to be elected, it would make Lee the second Hong Kong leader with a police background, the other one being Sir Francis Henry May in 1912.

Press freedom

In April 2022, Lee said that there was no need to defend freedom of the press, claiming that it already exists.[32] In contrast, a poll done by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI) interviewed 1,004 people from April 2022 and showed that citizens' satisfaction with freedom of the press had dropped to a new record low.[32]

Personal life

Lee had surgery to remove plane warts from his neck.[33]

Lee's wife and two children hold U.K. citizenship, and therefore Lee is eligible to claim U.K. citizenship as well.[34] Lee himself had U.K. citizenship until 2012, when he relinquished it in order to take the Under Secretary for Security position.[35]

Lee married his wife, Janet Lam Lai-sim, after their elder son, Gilbert Lee Man-lung, was born.[36] Both Gilbert Lee and the younger son, Lee Man-chun, went to Wah Yan College.[36]

Lee was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2017.[37]

He has a domestic helper, who in February 2022, tested positive for Covid-19.[38]

Lee did not respond to questions on whether he is Catholic.[36]

He is nicknamed "Pikachu" by the Hong Kong anti-establishment faction, as it sounds similar to his Cantonese name "Lee Ka-chiu".

United States sanctions

In August 2020, Lee and ten other officials were sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury under Executive Order 13936 by President Trump for undermining Hong Kong's autonomy.[39][40][41] He owns a flat at King's Park Villa in Ho Man Tin, bought in 1997 for HK $12.5 million and fully paid off, eliminating possible issues from his bank and the US sanctions.[42]

On 14 October 2020, Lee was listed on a United States Department of State report as one of 10 individuals who materially contributed to the failure of China to meet its obligations under the Sino–British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong's Basic Law. [43]

On 20 April 2022, Lee's YouTube account for his Chief Executive bid, johnlee2022, was removed by Google as they justified that "the move was required by US sanctions" against the ex-security chief. His Facebook and Instagram pages were still functional, but their payment feature was disabled by Meta, who operates the two social media platforms, for reasons similar to Google's.[44]

References

  1. ^ News, Bloomberg (6 April 2022). "China Backs Former Security Chief to Lead Hong Kong, SCMP Says – BNN Bloomberg". BNN. Retrieved 20 April 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ News, Bloomberg (18 April 2022). "Hong Kong Confirms John Lee as Sole Chief Executive Candidate – BNN Bloomberg". BNN. Retrieved 20 April 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ "各界「誇誇」李家超 前老師讚交齊功課 議員五花八門讚政綱". Hong Kong In-media. 29 April 2022.
  4. ^ HK Government Staff List 1985
  5. ^ HK Government Staff List 1985
  6. ^ "Three Under Secretaries and two Political Assistants appointed".
  7. ^ a b "Press Release". The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Hong Kong cabinet reshuffle: new No 2 official John Lee dismisses concerns over policy experience, cites superior grasp of government work". South China Morning Post. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  9. ^ Standard, The. "John Lee resigns, paving way for Chief Executive bid". The Standard. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  10. ^ Liu, Mingyang (8 August 2020). "The Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is formally established with Carrie Lam as chairman". Xinhua Net. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Hong Kong security chief thanks Beijing for new power to crush separatists". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  12. ^ "No politics behind bank account freezing: John Lee – RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  13. ^ Lau, Jessie (6 January 2021). "Hong Kong Police Arrest 53 Pro-Democrats on Subversion Charges". The Diplomat.
  14. ^ "HKSAR Government will not tolerate any offence of subversion". Hong Kong Government. 6 January 2021.
  15. ^ "What sparked Hong Kong's biggest mass arrests under national security law?". South China Morning Post. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  16. ^ "HK security chief says communications surveillance can come under security law". Reuters. 15 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Police goose step for public to show off nationalism – RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  18. ^ Cheng, Selina (25 June 2021). "Security chief John Lee to become Hong Kong's no. 2; police chief to head up security". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Wall Street Journal should support arrests in Hong Kong: John Lee". The Standard HK.
  20. ^ a b c Cheng, Selina (3 April 2022). "Covid-19: Work on temporary China-Hong Kong bridge began before emergency law was invoked, satellite images show". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  21. ^ "Hong Kong chief executive election 2022: Beijing approves resignation of John Lee, clearing way for his leadership bid". SCMP. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  22. ^ Cheung, Tony (10 April 2022). "Hong Kong chief executive election 2022: Why did hopeful John Lee keep talking about 'result-oriented' approach to governing?". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  23. ^ "John Lee resigns to be 'only Hong Kong leadership option with Beijing's blessing'". South China Morning Post. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  24. ^ "'John Lee set to pocket enough nominations to run in Hong Kong's leadership race'". South China Morning Post. 10 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  25. ^ "Manifesto not key for people to support John Lee: Tam – RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  26. ^ "John Lee says no need to revisit ill-fated Hong Kong extradition bill". South China Morning Post. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Hong Kong elections: John Lee says Article 23 legislation will be a top priority". South China Morning Post. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  28. ^ "Hong Kong's John Lee secures leadership bid; says run 'not easy' despite being sole contender so far". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  29. ^ "John Lee dismisses idea of conflict of interest – RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  30. ^ FactWire (15 April 2022). "FactWire: John Lee's sons have business links with Hong Kong chief executive electors, investigation reveals". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  31. ^ Standard, The. "Lee to hold court in one-man broadcast". The Standard. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  32. ^ a b "No need to 'defend' press freedom 'because it exists,' Hong Kong leadership candidate John Lee says". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  33. ^ "SB responds to media enquiries on S for S' health condition". Hong Kong Government. 25 March 2021.
  34. ^ "Hong Kong's ruling-class hypocrisy: how 'patriotic' enablers of the crackdown cling onto their foreign escape routes". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  35. ^ "李家超妻兒被指持英籍 無回覆「愛國者治港」質疑". 明報教育網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  36. ^ a b c "A look at the family behind Hong Kong chief executive hopeful John Lee". South China Morning Post. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  37. ^ "Appendix to the 2017 Honours List" (PDF). Hong Kong SAR Government. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  38. ^ Standard, The. "Domestic helper of John Lee Ka-chiu tests positive for Covid-19". The Standard. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  39. ^ "US sanctions Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, police chief and 9 other top officials for 'undermining autonomy'". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  40. ^ Macias, Amanda (7 August 2020). "U.S. sanctions Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam for carrying out Chinese 'policies of suppression'". CNBC. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  41. ^ "Treasury Sanctions Individuals for Undermining Hong Kong's Autonomy". United States Department of the Treasury. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  42. ^ "Teresa Cheng's mortgage under scrutiny as US sanctions cut bank ties". South China Morning Post. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  43. ^ U.S. Department of State. "Identification of Foreign Persons Involved in the Erosion of the Obligations of China Under the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law". Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 15 October 2020 suggested (help)
  44. ^ Yiu, Pak (20 April 2022). "YouTube shuts account of Hong Kong leadership candidate John Lee". Nikkei Asia.
Political offices
Preceded by Under Secretary for Security
2012–2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary for Security
2017–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Secretary for Administration
2021–2022 		Vacant
Wikiquote has quotations related to John Lee Ka-chiu.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=John_Lee_Ka-chiu&oldid=1085958093"