Hong Kong's no. 2 official resigns, seen as next city leader

Hong Kong’s No. 2 official and a staunch supporter of a Beijing-backed crackdown on pro-democracy activists has tendered his resignation amid expectation that he would announce his intention to run for the top job in the semi-autonomous territory

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong’s No. 2 official and a staunch supporter of a Beijing-backed crackdown on pro-democracy activists tendered his resignation on Wednesday amid expectation that he would announce his intention to run for the top job in the semi-autonomous territory.

John Lee, who is the city’s chief secretary for administration, submitted his resignation to Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam, according to a government statement.

Lam said Monday that she would not seek a second term as chief executive, following a rocky five years punctuated by the COVID-19 pandemic, a crackdown on political freedoms and Beijing’s growing influence over the territory.

Local media, including the leading South China Morning Post daily, reported that Lee will be the sole candidate to be endorsed by the Chinese government in Hong Kong’s leadership race. He is expected to announce his candidacy when his resignation is approved by the central authorities later Wednesday.