I Am Pragmatic, I Don't Just Shout Slogans: John Lee

Chief Executive John Lee says he will be pragmatic in handling Hong Kong’s housing shortage, and will be honest with the public if the government encounters any problems when tackling the issue.

Lee was speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday before holding his first meeting with the Executive Council as CE.

“I am pragmatic. I am not a chief executive who only shouts slogans. I will honestly tell everyone where the problem lies. It’s because we should let people know if there are problems, but the government should face them squarely and try to solve them, and let people know about the solution,” he said.

“I think it is the right attitude to solve a problem. We might even find new solutions with this method. I promise I will work hard.”

Lee said in his election platform that taskforces would be set up to handle the long queue for public housing and to speed up land supply to build homes.

On Article 23 national security legislation, Lee did not give any timetable, but said he will make reference to different jurisdictions and make sure the law will be able to tackle the most serious threats to national security.

The CE also said he’s asked Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau to review anti-pandemic measures, to strike a balance between infection control and people’s convenience.

“So it is important to find a good method based on science and evidence, to reduce inconvenience to people who should be allowed to go about their normal activities once we have identified them to be people who are not infected,” he said.