Chief executive hopeful John Lee Ka-chiu has secured over 700 nominations - nearly half of the 1,463-member Election Committee - and is set to submit his candidacy application to the Electoral Affairs Office today.

Lee said last night he was thrilled after learning he had obtained 700 nominations - 200 more than what his campaign office was pursuing.

As Lee had more than the needed 188 - and at least 15 from each Election Committee sector - to run for the top job, he said he will hand in his nominations today.

But Lee said he has to finish writing his manifesto and that he may not be able to cover every area. But, he added, it that does not mean he is not concerned about whatever area is not mentioned.

He thanked members of his campaign office for their efforts.

In the morning, Lee met with Election Committee members from the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association and told reporters that reintroducing the shelved Article 23 bill will be a priority if he is elected. But he stressed it will not be his only focus.

"[Enacting Article 23] is for the good of Hong Kong, for if we do not manage or deal well with any aspect that is prone to attack, it will have a knock-on effect on other areas," Lee said. "It is for the stability of Hong Kong. Without it, we will not be able to have prosperity."

The meeting was followed by two online conferences with around 100 Election Committee members in the afternoon. Some asked Lee to come up with measures to shorten the time needed to build homes while some hoped for a reopening of borders to help the tourism and retailing sectors.

Lee said in the first conference that he emphasizes teamwork and he attaches a great importance to the expertise of the Election Committee members.

Martin Lee Ka-shing, executive director of Henderson Land, proposed during the meeting to simplify the procedure in land development.

"Building transitional housing is not a solution, but shortening the construction time for private and public housing flats is the way to lead citizens out of subdivided flats and help improve the living quality of grassroot families," Lee said.

Sun Hung Kai Properties executive director Adam Kwok Kai-fai called on the government to cut the red tape in the planning and land developing process as well as relax the plot ratio in the New Territories.

"Turning a farmland into a housing development currently takes around 10 to 15 years. Even if the industry works extremely hard, we still cannot catch up with people's demand given the time needed," Kwoks said.

He also proposed that Lee appoint a top official to supervise the implementation of housing planning once elected.

Melody Kwok Sze-wai, president of the Cosmetic and Perfumery Association, asked Lee to restart negotiations with the mainland to reopen borders.

"Beauty parlors have been closed for 246 days since April 2020 and the sales of cosmetic products are also taking a hard hit due to the closure of borders," Kwok said.

Election Committee sector lawmaker Peter Koon Ho-ming said if Lee is elected he will have to deal with issues related to Chan Tong-kai, who allegedly killed his girlfriend Amber Poon Hiu-wing in Taiwan in 2018.

In response, Lee said the solution is "very simple" as long as Taiwan authorities allow Chan to go to Taiwan and turn himself in.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com

John Lee is set to submit his candidacy application today. SING TAO

Big step's next after John Lee hits 700 mark