China promotes security officials to senior roles in Hong Kong

Caption Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam, right, speaks besides Chief Secretary John Lee, center, and Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu during a news conference in Hong Kong, Friday, June 25, 2021. - AP

HONG KONG (Reuters: China on Friday (June 25) approved the promotion of Hong Kong's security secretary John Lee to chief secretary, while police chief Chris Tang will take Lee's position in what critics say will further tighten Beijing's security squeeze on the global financial hub.

The elevation of Lee, 63, a former police deputy commissioner, to chief secretary is the first time a security specialist has taken on the number two position in the territory since Hong Kong's handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997.