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New Hong Kong chief among world's highest-paid politicians

The 64-year-old was chosen for Hong Kong's top job earlier this year after running unopposed, with his campaign receiving around $1.4 million in donations

By AFP
August 03, 2022
Hong Kong´s new Chief Executive John Lee gives a speech following his swearing-in as the city´s new leader, during a ceremony to inaugurate the government in Hong Kong on July 1, 2022, on the 25th anniversary of the city´s handover from Britain to China. — AFP/File
Hong Kong´s new Chief Executive John Lee gives a speech following his swearing-in as the city´s new leader, during a ceremony to inaugurate the government in Hong Kong on July 1, 2022, on the 25th anniversary of the city´s handover from Britain to China. — AFP/File

HONG KONG: Hong Kong's new leader John Lee received a salary bump that would make him among the world's highest-paid politicians, according to figures provided by his office Wednesday, even as the financial hub's economy undergoes a downturn.

The government announced this week that its economy has tipped into a technical recession, after being battered by the pandemic, mounting interest rates and weakened global trade.

Despite the city's dip in fortunes, the chief executive will still be comfortably compensated, according to figures provided by his office.

The former security chief, who assumed office in July, is paid HK$452,200 ($58,000) a month, and will receive an entertainment allowance of over $10,000 as well, his office told AFP Wednesday.

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His salary is a step up from that of his predecessor Carrie Lam, who used to earn around $54,000 a month.

This means Lee earns more than US President Joe Biden — whose annual salary is $400,000 — and is second only to Singaporean leader Lee Hsien Loong, who nets around $1.6 million a year.

Like Lam, he is also subject to sanctions by the United States for his role in China's ongoing crackdown on freedoms in the city.

Lam once revealed she had "piles of cash" at home as she was denied banking services due to the US sanctions.

It is unclear whether Lee receives his salary in cash.

But he has on multiple occasions denounced the American sanctions as "bullying" and said he paid them no attention.

The Chinese city regularly tops the chart as one of the most expensive cities to live in, with world-beating levels of wealth inequality.