'John Lee's Team Can Secure Early Results'

An independent China strategist on Monday praised Chief Executive-designate John Lee for putting together a "fairly good team" and predicted the new cabinet could secure achievements in their first 100 days in office.

Speaking on RTHK's Hong Kong Today programme a day after Lee unveiled a line-up comprising incumbent officials, seasoned civil servants and professionals from a range of backgrounds, Andrew Leung said the CE-designate would expect to produce concrete results early in their term.

"What John Lee wants to achieve, especially, is to show credibility in his first hundred days," Leung told RTHK's Janice Wong. "Because that will be a test of people's confidence in his team because many of them are relatively unknown to most of the people and I think he has to actually deliver some results.

"Of course some of these deep-seated problems will take a long time to show results, but at least he can show progress on the partitioned units and providing some affordable private housing to eligible people and, of course, to manage the pandemic."

Lee named Eric Chan, director of the Chief Executive’s Office, as his Chief Secretary while Financial Secretary Paul Chan will remain in post.

The central government confirmed the appointments on Sunday and the new team will take office along with Lee on July 1.