Hong Kong election for top leader is wide open as race starts

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's election season officially begins on Sunday , and despite a near-two month delay in proceedings due to a Covid-19 crisis, it's still wildly unclear who actually wants the city's top job.

Before that, Mrs Lam had been tipped as the race front-runner with local media calling her a"comeback queen". But at a virus briefing last week she sparked rumours she wouldn't seek another five-year term."If the next government needs my opinion," she said,"I will be happy to provide." There are other signs he might run. A week before Lam's annual policy address last October, Mr Chan released his own manifesto, the Business Environment report, which outlined how the city could better leverage integration with the mainland.

It's unclear if his lack of a national security background - a priority for the city - might rule him out.Career cop John Lee, 64, proved he had Beijing's backing when he was named Hong Kong's No. 2 top official in a June cabinet reshuffle. A staunch supporter of the extradition bill that sparked the 2019 unrest and defender of the police, Mr Lee has been instrumental in enforcing the security law and led the shutdown of Lai's Apple Daily newspaper.

He's been at times critical of Mrs Lam's government on his verified Facebook page, in August questioning why a fund that paid for protesters' legal fees was allowed to exist. During her term, she helped China impose a long-coveted national security law. That prompted the US to sanction her for undermining democracy, cutting her off from banking services and meaning she has to be paid in cash. That kind of loyalty could be rewarded, especially as omicron now tests the mainland's own defences.

straits_times Hmm….I’m putting money on the Beijing controlled puppet.

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Inside Hong Kong Podcast: Will Hong Kong pivot away from its 'zero-Covid' strategy?
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »

Trading in more than 30 Hong Kong-listed firms halted on results delayHONG KONG: The Hong Kong stock exchange on Friday (Apr 1) suspended from trade the shares of Chinese developers such as Sunac China, Shimao Group and Kaisa Group, and about 30 other firms for a delay in declaring annual results. Hong Kong-listed firms usually have three months after the end of th
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

SocGen traders making temporary move from Hong Kong to SingaporeSociete Generale is temporarily relocating at least a dozen traders from Hong Kong to Singapore for at least eight weeks, sources said.
Source: YahooSG - 🏆 3. / 71 Read more »

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam goes to Shenzhen to discuss election: MediaThere is no election, but a selection
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »

Hong Kong residents to receive Covid-19 ART kits for voluntary testing exercise
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »

Hong Kong's Carrie Lam says leadership election to go ahead as planned
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »