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John Lee Government
6th Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
John Lee with his cabinet on 19 June 2022
Date formed	1 July 2022; 2 years ago (2022-07-01)
People and organisations
Head of state	Xi Jinping
Head of government	John Lee
Member parties	DAB, FTU, BPA, NPP, LP
Status in legislature	Pro-Beijing supermajority
Opposition party	None
History
Election	2022 Chief Executive election
Legislature term	7th Legislative Council
Predecessor	Lam government

The administration of John Lee as Chief Executive of Hong Kong, or Lee administration, officially referred to as "The 6th term Chief Executive of Hong Kong" relates to the period of governance of Hong Kong headed by Chief Executive John Lee, starting from 1 July 2022.

Background and election

With the legislating of the National Security Law constraining the pro-democracy movement and the opposition camp, there was virtually no opposition in Hong Kong. Legislation were passed in the legislature without obstacle, especially after 2021 election which saw electoral changes being implemented afterwards, affecting the composition of the Legislative Council.

In the 2022 Chief Executive election, John Lee, promoted from Secretary for Security to Chief Secretary for Administration a year ago, received the approval of the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee to stand in the election and was the sole candidate of the leadership race, backed by the pro-Beijing camp. Receiving 99% of votes in the 1,461-member Election Committee, Lee was chosen as the Chief Executive of Hong Kong.

Lee received the appointment from Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on 30 May 2022.

Cabinet

It was reported on 16 June 2022 that John Lee had decided on the members of his Executive Council. The official list was announced on 19 June after the State Council approved the nominations by Lee. Four of the senior officials were under the United States sanctions after the imposition of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, including Chief Secretary nominee Eric Chan, former Direction of Immigration. One-third of the cabinet ministers are from the civil service, although the two highest-ranking positions were occupied by former officers from Disciplined Services. Some believed the government will continue the focus on security.

The Legislative Council passed a government restructuring package on 15 June, adding new deputies to the Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary and Secretary for Justice, as proposed by incoming Chief Executive John Lee. Two new bureaus were created, with some existing revamped to transfer responsibilities to the new departments.

Reshuffle

John Lee reshuffle his cabinet on 5 December 2024 as the culture and transportation ministers were sacked by the Chinese government upon his recommendation. Director of Housing Rosanna Law succeeded Kevin Yeung as the new Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, who was under fire in recent months over the push for "mega-event economy" and rebuilding Hong Kong’s post-pandemic tourism appeal, such as the Messi's Mess. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung was replaced by Mable Chan, the permanent secretary for the bureau. Lee evaded questions on the reasons behind the reshuffle, but mentioned his wishes for "a team and secretaries that will be able to deliver what I have in mind" and to "create the best result in the shortest period of Hong Kong" after time was lost because of COVID and the 2019 "riots". He also praised the two new secretaries for having "reform mindsets".

While Yeung was embattled for some months, the reshuffle still came as a surprise. Sources quoted by the media said the two ministers were only told of their dismiss a day before the announcement. It was later reported that Lee intended to fire the two ministers earlier that year for their "poor performance and inability to steer sectors seen as crucial to the city’s reputation and economic growth", and at once even considering sacking the environment minister Tse Chin-wan after the waste charging scheme failed. However, the leader held off the reshuffle to project a strong image of governance as the national security legislation was under way.

Ministry

Other posts

• Commissioner of Police: Raymond Siu
• Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption: Woo Ying-ming
• Director of Audit: Nelson Lam
• Director of Immigration: Au Ka-wang (until 2023), Benson Kwok (since 2023)
• Commissioner of Customs and Excise: Louise Ho

Executive Council non-official members

The new members of the Executive Council was announced on 22 June 2022.

References

1. Strumpf, Elaine Yu and Dan (17 December 2021). "Hong Kong Holds First Election Without Opposition. But Will People Vote?". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
2. "Hong Kong's sham elections discredited by absence of opposition". Hong Kong Watch. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
3. "The opposition is in jail. Hong Kong wants its 'patriots'-only vote to look legitimate". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
4. "Will Carrie Lam, allies govern better following Hong Kong's electoral overhaul?". South China Morning Post. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
5. "Hong Kong Sees Lowest Ever Voter Turnout After Beijing's New Election Rules". Time. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
6. "Government announces appointment and removal of Principal Officials (with photos)". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
7. "Candidate Eligibility Review Committee announces lists of validly registered ex-officio members, validly nominated nominees and candidates for Election Committee". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
8. "John Lee resigns to be 'only Hong Kong leadership option with Beijing's blessing'". South China Morning Post. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
9. Standard, The. "John Lee selected as Hong Kong's next leader with 1,416 support votes". The Standard. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
10. "John Lee receives CE appointment letter in Beijing - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
11. "消息：新班子名單曝光 5局長留下9人升遷（附名單） - 香港經濟日報 - TOPick - 新聞 - 政治". topick.hket.com. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
12. "China's State Council appoints principal officials of sixth-term HKSAR govt". english.www.gov.cn. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
13. "Principal Officials of Sixth-term HKSAR Government appointed (with photos)". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
14. "New Hong Kong Cabinet Includes 4 Under US Sanctions". VOA. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
15. "香港新班子頭二把手均為武官 評論指「武進文退」已有妥協但料仍強硬". RFI - 法國國際廣播電台 (in Traditional Chinese). 19 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
16. "Hong Kong gov't restructuring to add 3 new deputies, 2 new bureaux and cost HK$95 million a year". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
17. "Hong Kong culture and transport ministers, Kevin Yeung and Lam Sai-hung, sacked". HKFP. 5 December 2024.
18. "Hong Kong's John Lee sacks tourism and transport ministers in unexpected move". South China Morning Post. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
19. Standard, The. "Surprise shake-up to align with Lee vision". The Standard. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
20. "Hong Kong leader planned to axe ministers far earlier, sources say". South China Morning Post. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
21. "New-term ExCo membership announced (with photos)". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 24 June 2022.

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