Opinion | John Lee faces the challenge of rebuilding a battered Hong Kong

By Tom Fowdy

Former Security chief John Lee is expected to be elected as the next chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), replacing outgoing leader Carrie Lam. Lee seeks to inherit the governance of a city which has undergone drastic changes, upheavals and challenges over the past few years, from foreign-backed riots to COVID-19. To become the next chief executive of the city will not be an easy task, but he vows to put Hong Kong back on track and transform it once again into one of the world's leading cities, aiming to "start a new chapter together".

The politics of Hong Kong have experienced enormous disruption over the past few years as the city was gripped with violent riots inducing separatist ideologies, which were backed by American politicians. The riots created chaos throughout the city, aiming to paralyze infrastructure, destroy property, ferment insurrection and undermine law enforcement. As a result, the National Security Law for the Hong Kong Special administrative region was implemented by China's National People's Congress in 2020, which criminalized treason, terrorism, foreign collusion and subversion.

As Chief of the City's Security, John Lee has been a key figure in restoring law and order to Hong Kong. As of 2022, the riots are over and the city is peaceful again. However, that does not mean there is no work left to be done. The next Chief Executive of the city is tasked with ensuring the lasting stability and security of the SAR. Their biggest priority will be to ensure such events are never allowed to repeat themselves. Chief to achieving this is the need for the new administration to fully implement the National Security Law on a local level, as mandated by Article 23 of the Basic Law.

But safeguarding the security and stability of the city is not just a law-and-order issue, but a whole of society one too. Changes must be made to Hong Kong's educational system. A primary cause of the unrest in the city was the persistence of an old colonial identity which rejected being part of China. Reforms to the schooling system must be secured to help younger generations understand that the city is part of China. As Lee described it: "love China, love Hong Kong generation". Lee has also vowed to increase the training and professionalism of teachers, which was also a problem in encouraging unrest amongst young people.

But in addition to this, Hong Kong faces a number of other challenges which also need to be addressed in order to ensure peace, satisfaction and quality of life amongst its population, and the events of the past few years cannot be separated from this. Hong Kong's famous levels of prosperity and development must be to the benefit of all society, as opposed to just the few. Wealth inequality itself is a threat to social order. As Lee quoted: "I want to improve governance ability, enhance government execution ability, unite all walks of life, jointly solve social problems, and at the same time have a solid foundation, so that we can move forward without worries".

Top of that agenda is Hong Kong's housing and real estate situation. Due to being a highly populated and geographically condensed territory, Hong Kong is known for having one of the most expensive housing markets in the entire world, with real estate costing an average of HK$184,000 per square meter. This has led to expensive rents, high levels of rent inequality and has coincided with low social mobility for young people. John Lee has proposed to set up a task-force to increase the supply of affordable and public housing, whilst also developing private land. His vision is to make Hong Kong more inclusive, more harmonious and more prosperous for all.

Ultimately, John Lee is looking to rebuild Hong Kong. It is time for a new and fresh start, one which will move away from the disruptions and upheavals of the past and recapture the magic which made it one of the world's most famous and desired cities. Lee understands that Hong Kong's future can only shine bright if it is harmonious with its existence as part of China, casting off the mantle of foreign interference, unrest and finding new prosperity through integrating itself with the Greater Bay Area. This new chapter will also aim to deliver a society that works better for its people, cares better for its people and gets to the root of the problems which has beset ordinary people. It will be no easy task, but it will be a necessary one.

The author is a well-seasoned writer and analyst with a large portfolio related to China topics, especially in the field of politics, international relations and more. He graduated with an Msc. in Chinese Studies from Oxford University in 2018.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

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