Family conflict-of-interest fears dismissed

Michael Shum

Sole chief executive candidate John Lee has dismissed concerns over a potential conflict of interest arising from the work of his sons, saying they are not involved in his campaign.

Lee was commenting on a report that his two sons have business connections with Election Committee members.

"I am really thankful that my family supports me to run, but the election is my personal affair. I do not want them to be affected in any way because of my participation in the election. So I will not comment on my family's private situation," he said.

Lee's eldest son, Gilbert Lee Man-lung, 44, has been Hang Seng Bank's head of strategy and chief of staff since 2018, as well as a member of the bank's executive committee, asset and liability committee and risk committee.

His direct boss is Diana Cesar, who has been executive director and chief executive of Hang Seng Bank since September last year. She is also an Election Committee member for the finance subsector.

Gilbert Lee was appointed by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po in July last year as a member of the financial reporting review panel, which is responsible for conducting inquiries into listed companies.

The panel, under the Financial Reporting Council, may require relevant persons to produce records and documents and provide information and explanation for the purpose of the inquiries according to the Financial Reporting Council Ordinance.

Lee's campaign office said he, as chief secretary, did not play any part in the appointment of his son to the panel.

Lee's younger son, Jacky Lee Man-chun, graduated from the University of Hong Kong, majoring in computer science and information system, and worked for Bank of China, HSBC and Bank of Communications, responsible for information technology auditing.

He also worked for Fubon Bank as a department head responsible for information technology compliance. After that in 2018 he opened Revan Education Consulting Ltd, whose registered address is under a company called Eternal City Development Ltd.

The major shareholder of Eternal City is Li Sing-tui, who is an Election Committee member and a Hong Kong deputy to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Revan Education is a shareholder in a kindergarten in Dongguan, Guangdong.

The kindergarten, described as the fifth-most expensive in the city, charges mainland parents around 60,000 yuan (around HK$73,796) per year.

Lee's wife, Janet Lam Lai-sim, was a member of a group called Singing Girls in 2019, together with the wives of other heads of disciplinary forces.

She told reporters that her husband, who was the secretary for security at that time, would attend her performances no matter how busy he was.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Affairs Office confirmed that it has only received one nomination form - submitted by Lee - for the May 8 election as the nomination period closed yesterday.

Kung fu master and moviemaker Checkley Sin Kwok-lam, who previously intended to run, said he will not join the race as Lee is more capable than him. He added he will fully support his campaign, but insisted he was able to obtain sufficient nominations to run.

After meeting with the legal and accounting sector online yesterday, Lee told a press briefing that he will be focusing on communicating with people and writing his election platform in the near future.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com