Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has said he is focused on accomplishing much more in the final year of his current term, which he described as a “long period for a lot of things to be achieved” as he shrugged off a question on seeking a second one.

Alluding to the adage “a year is a long time in politics”, Lee deflected the question of extending his tenure for another five years and focused instead on what he saw as ensuring continuity in governance. He was “very positive” on the future of Hong Kong’s economic development, he added.

“One year is a long period for a lot of things to be achieved … So a lot of these things can happen in one year,” Lee said, pointing to policy roll-outs under his watch, including the decision to allow stock market trading during typhoons and the implementation of time-varying tolls at three harbour crossings.

Four years after taking office in 2022, during the pandemic that had halted citywide anti-government protests, the 68-year-old leader was asked if he would seek another five-year term or prefer to take a step back to focus on his family and hobbies such as qigong.

Reflecting on the past four years of governing a special administrative region, he said: “Being the chief executive is a mission that you should be selfless to and devote everything you can to the overall good of Hong Kong … Hong Kong’s interest takes priority over my personal interests.”