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Opinion | John Lee made 2022 Hong Kong’s year of action and reconnection
- From tackling housing and youth development to reconnecting the city to China and the world, the chief executive crammed a lot into his first six months on the job
- His early successes will pave the way for achieving more long-term goals like economic integration and growth
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Six months into his office, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has lived up to his promise of leading the government in a “result-oriented” and “solution-driven” manner.
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After battling seemingly intractable challenges on multiple fronts, Lee has surpassed expectations, and won quiet respect and acceptance, thanks to his practical and down-to-earth work style.
On taking over, Lee’s most pressing task was returning Hong Kong to normalcy after more than two years of one of the world’s toughest anti-Covid-19 regimes. This Lee has achieved by striking a balance between protecting lives and safeguarding livelihoods.
Hong Kong took a giant step forward when Lee announced that quarantine requirements would be lifted from September 26. Hong Kong moved to “0+3”, that is, zero days of quarantine plus three days of medical surveillance, until December 14.
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On his return from his maiden duty visit to Beijing, Lee lifted all inbound Covid-19 control measures for international visitors with effect from December 29. Working in tandem with China’s lifting of compulsory quarantine requirements for international visitors from January 8, Lee announced on January 5 the resumption of travel arrangements with mainland China and Macau from the same date.
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