Beijing has high expectations - especially on housing

Beijing has "high expectations" of incoming chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his administration, especially in solving problems including housing, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said.

As the office under the State Council sees it, the new cabinet are patriots ruling Hong Kong after overcoming all challenges in the 2019 social unrest and implementing the national security law.

"The governing team of the sixth SAR government is made up of patriots who unswervingly uphold the One Country, Two Systems principle and sincerely safeguard China's sovereignty, security and interests," the office said. The team, it added, had "stood firm" and also had the courage "to speak out in major political conflicts." Members of the new cabinet, it was pointed out, were from various backgrounds. Some were administrative officers and others professionals with political experience.

And some officials had studied abroad and have rich overseas contacts, and that could help enhance Hong Kong's international status.

A spokesman for Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong said it is believed the new administration can unite society, and the hope is that it will respond to expectations of society and citizens with practical action from a new starting point to score greater achievements. The spokesman also stressed that Lee's team is drawn from a diverse background with wide international vision and high administrative abilities.

Pro-Beijing political commentator Lau Siu-kai said Lee's cabinet is a practical team with experience in government work and public affairs, and that can help execute policies and generate achievements in good time.

Six officials in Lee's cabinet were administrative officers, and on that Lau said although the establishment camp has criticized the performance of such officers their roles in the SAR government have still to be filled adequately. Hong Kong does not have enough talent to replace administrative officers, Lau said, so they were the backbone of governance.