Innovation, fostering unity among tasks for Hong Kong’s John Lee: observers

Chief Executive John Lee ends duty visit to Beijing on Saturday after meeting President Xi Jinping the previous day

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The city leader has pledged to lead Hong Kong in pursuing reforms and deepening integration with mainland China. Photo: May Tse

Published: 11:33pm, 14 Dec 2024Updated: 1:14am, 15 Dec 2024

Hong Kong’s leader has three pressing challenges following his duty visit to Beijing, observers have said – fostering social unity, promoting innovative decision-making and balancing the government budget.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu ended his trip to the capital on Saturday after meeting President Xi Jinping the previous day to report on Hong Kong developments.

Xi affirmed support for the chief executive to “unite all sectors in society to seek reforms” and promote economic prosperity through “innovation”.

“Unity is now an issue within the establishment, but it is not something Lee can personally control,” veteran China watcher Johnny Lau Yui-siu said.

“Therefore, what Xi Jinping said about uniting all sectors of society is to a certain extent directional advice, not an accusation.”

He said an example was that the property sector remained keen on publicising its profits-first approach to the Northern Metropolis development after Xia Baolong, Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs, called for more active participation in the city’s infrastructure projects.