John Lee - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

From his role as security chief during the 2019 protests and unrest, to his promotion to the city’s No. 2 position, ex-police officer John Lee finally rose to the top, becoming chief executive on July 1, 2022.

LATEST NEWS & VIEWS

HKFP Lens: Hong Kong marks China’s National Day with displays of patriotism, pyrotechnics

The city was transformed by a sea of red China and Hong Kong flags and fireworks as it marked its first post-Covid National Day.

by Kyle Lam 00:00, 2 October 202313:03, 2 October 2023

In Pictures: China’s development gives Hong Kong ‘endless opportunities,’ Chief Exec. John Lee says on National Day

“On this journey of strong nation building and the rejuvenation of the nation, the country has pushed forth with opening up and comprehensively promoted high-quality development, bringing Hong Kong endless opportunities,” leader John Lee said.

by Hillary Leung 10:50, 1 October 202314:41, 1 October 2023

‘It’s impossible to organise a large-scale march now’: Hong Kong police step up surveillance to ‘tame’ activists

Activists say Hong Kong’s police have stepped up surveillance – pre-emptively discouraging rallies before applications are filed, paying home visits in the lead-up to days seen as politically sensitive and summoning organisers for warning chats.

by AFP 09:00, 30 September 202312:42, 29 September 2023

Hong Kong leader John Lee’s popularity ‘hovering’ around midpoint of approval scale, survey finds

by Hans Tse 08:00, 29 September 202310:25, 29 September 2023

Voting time in Hong Kong’s overhauled ‘patriots-only’ district elections cut by 1 hour

by Kelly Ho 19:20, 28 September 202319:55, 28 September 2023

Hong Kong spent around HK$1 million sponsoring journalist visits in 2023

10:40, 26 September 202318:08, 26 September 2023

Hong Kong bags 2 golds and 5 bronze medals on first day of Hangzhou Asian Games

13:06, 25 September 202313:07, 25 September 2023

Hong Kong lawmakers, NGOs urge more gov’t support for carers after brothers found dead in empty flat

13:00, 25 September 202316:25, 25 September 2023

Hongkongers urged against trading on unlicensed crypto exchanges as JPEX fraud claims climb to HK$1.2 billion

20:20, 19 September 202319:45, 20 September 2023

Man accused of sexual assault at Education University of Hong Kong induction event denied bail

19:19, 15 September 202319:19, 15 September 2023

Hong Kong launches nightlife campaign to boost ‘night-time economy’ amid weak growth outlook

12:00, 15 September 202318:50, 15 September 2023

COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Why Beijing and Hong Kong’s complaints about Fukushima wastewater are hypocritical

The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and resulting tsunami, combined with regulatory and management failures, caused nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. Subsequent efforts to cool damaged reactors at the plant produced huge quantities of contaminated wastewater, which is stored near the plant in a growing number of massive holding tanks. See…

18:00, 31 July 202318:04, 31 July 2023

Improving Hong Kong’s pandemic response and mental healthcare will take independent reviews – and action

Last month, the Hong Kong government lifted our Covid-19 state of emergency. A few weeks earlier, the World Health Organization had declared the pandemic over as Covid becomes endemic. These developments allow the government to focus on urgent tasks of economic development and reengaging globally. Now is also the time to reconsider a publicly available,…

11:00, 17 June 202316:28, 14 June 2023

FEATURES

Road to Hong Kong villages cut off by landslides to partially reopen; residents rally to coordinate clean-up efforts

People living in Shek O and Big Wave Bay on Saturday morning joined efforts to clear debris blocking part of Shek O Road, taking shovels and wheelbarrows up to the site as an excavator worked to clear the landslip from the other side.

by Mercedes Hutton 20:25, 9 September 202316:45, 12 September 2023

Shifting Narratives: How the official attitude to Hong Kong’s District Councils changed

When the opposition camp swept the board in the 2019 District Council elections, Hong Kong’s then-leader said she respected the result. Now, officials say the advisory bodies provided a platform to advocates of “black riots.”

by Candice Chau 10:00, 20 August 202321:58, 21 August 2023

Explainer: What is ‘soft resistance’? Hong Kong officials vow to take a hard line against it, but provide no definition

“Soft resistance” has been increasingly cited as a threat to national security. But legal scholars have raised concern over the term’s lack of definition, with one calling it a “worrying development.”

by Hong Kong Free Press 08:58, 5 August 202309:00, 5 August 2023

Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 37

HK$1 million bounties for overseas activists as families targeted, ex-members of Demosisto arrested, warnings against ‘soft resistance,’ journalists raise alarm over press freedom, and leader John Lee is reportedly barred from the APEC meeting in the US.

by Hong Kong Free Press 10:00, 30 July 202304:31, 31 July 2023

Explainer: What is Article 23? Hong Kong’s homegrown security law finds itself back in the spotlight

An attempt to pass the city’s own security law collapsed in 2003 under the weight of mass protests. This time, public opposition is likely to be muted.