Opinion | 10 goals for John Lee’s first 100 days as Hong Kong chief executive
- The proof of Lee’s ‘result-oriented’ leadership will lie in what he can deliver during his first crucial months
- Putting aside long-term goals, there are plenty of smaller milestones to reach, including reopening the mainland border and providing temporary relief to cage-home dwellers
Regardless of how they are elected, any leader’s litmus test lies in the outcome of his or her governance. Having repeatedly emphasised a result-oriented approach, chief executive-elect John Lee Ka-chiu must show sooner rather than later that he can deliver tangible results to regain the public’s faltering trust.
Before anything can be done, Lee has to assemble a governing team of high-calibre individuals imaginatively drawn from a variety of sources. Both the Executive Council and the team of minsters need an overhaul. There is no lack of capable and trusted candidates in his election team and in the newly reformed Legislative Council.
To avoid the impression of too much old wine in new bottles, he might consider recruiting or seconding high-flyers from the private sector, especially for such portfolios as financial services, technology, and environment.
While continuing to flesh out long-term plans, Lee could do well by harvesting some lower-hanging fruits during his first 100 days. Here is a viable 10-point to-do list.
Second, Lee must show early returns on the public housing front. There is no better target than the plight of those living in subdivided units or cubicles. As a palliative, temporary housing can be provided by converting underutilised quarantine cabins.
