[clarification needed][13] On 3 July 2020, the Chinese state-run Xinhua News Agency stated that the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was formally established.

[21] In April 2021, Lee said that Hong Kong's disciplined services would adopt PLA-style goose step marching in order to demonstrate "nationalistic sentiments" and to "strengthen awareness of national security".

[28] Lee was the sole candidate who had the blessing of the Chinese leader Xi Jinping's administration in the 2022 Hong Kong Chief Executive election, which was communicated by the Liaison Office.

[57] In October 2023, after the law was passed in mainland China, Lee said that Hong Kong would "fully facilitate the relevant work to co-ordinate within the Government and also the patriotic forces of different sectors in making persistent efforts to promote patriotic education, so as to enable the public to gain further knowledge of the history, culture and rapid development in all aspects of our country and understand the close relationship between Mainland and Hong Kong.

"[58] A government source revealed that the education sector was not consulted over the changes beforehand, with the chairman of the Subsidised Primary Schools Council saying he still had no idea about the content.

[67] During his leadership, Lee attempted to reverse the emigration wave in Hong Kong triggered by the imposition of the National Security Law in 2020, as well as the strict zero-COVID curbs.

[51] In July 2023, after a report showed that almost 28,000 students left the Hong Kong school system from 2021 to 2022, Lee said of the emigration wave that "I believe the worst has passed.

[79] On 5 July 2022 in his first ever weekly news conference as the Chief Executive, Lee said that Hong Kong would look into easing COVID-19 health protocols, shortening the quarantine period in particular.

[82] On 12 September 2022, SCMP reported that Hong Kong's health experts had been issued clear rules by Lee's administration, stating that they should not express conflicting opinion's against the government's official positions.

[83] This came after the government's COVID-19 Expert Advisory Panel, composed of six medical specialists, had several members who suggested gradually lifting COVID-19 restrictions, including removing hotel quarantine by November 2022.

[86] On 13 September 2022, Lee held a press conference, where he addressed concerns that people coming from mainland China to Hong Kong did not need to be vaccinated.

[88] Another doctor, Joseph Tsang Kay-yan, chairman of the Medical Association's advisory committee on communicable diseases, echoed Tien's comments against what Lee said, stating "The risk of travellers from the mainland getting Covid in Hong Kong is high.

[95] On 21 September 2022, Lee said that Hong Kong is a "highly open, international city in the Greater Bay Area", though SCMP noted that the region has been mostly cut off from the outside world since early 2020 due to travel restrictions.

[129] In August 2022, Lee was scheduled for another meeting with authorities in mainland China, but did not elaborate on the reopening plan or timetable, saying that "It is better to announce the details when we have reached a certain stage of agreement, otherwise the information will be confusing.

[134] In December 2022, Lee said that "I can now announce that the much-awaited reopening of the border with the mainland can now be achieved" in January 2023, though Tam Yiu-chung warned that it would be opened in a gradual manner and not fully.

[143] Lee and other government officials were criticized by Lew Mon-hung for "crossing the line" with his statements on Taiwan, as the Basic Law stipulates that diplomatic affairs of Hong Kong are to be handled by mainland China's Foreign Ministry.

[100] During his election campaign, Lee promised to release "key performance indicators" and initial ideas on alleviating public housing wait times within his first 100 days in office.

"[163] On 20 October 2022, Lee participated in a phone-in session with radio stations, where one caller addressed "harsh policies", stating "Hong Kong's always had a lot of talents.

[166] In October 2023, the Hong Kong Free Press reviewed 3 key measures (Care Teams, a mentorship program, and a talent visa) from Lee's 2022 policy address, and found potential issues with all of them.

[177] Lee said that the "song that was played was closely connected to the 2019 violence and disturbances, and advocacy for Hong Kong's independence," and said that the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau would investigate the matter.

[182] Earlier, three Court of Final Appeal judges, including Chief Justice Andrew Cheung had ruled that Lai be allowed to hire Owen.

[190] In contrast, a poll done by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI) interviewed 1,004 people from April 2022 and showed that citizens' satisfaction with freedom of the press had dropped to a new record low.

[193] In November 2022, after Bao Choy had her appeal rejected, Lee said press freedom was "in the pocket of the people of Hong Kong" and protected by the Basic Law.

"[209] In December 2023, Lee said that people who claim the government only focuses on national security matters rather than other livelihood issues are wrong and are committing "soft resistance.

[220] In February 2023, Lee took a trip to the Middle East; later, he wrote an article in South China Morning Post, saying that "Our key message, of course, was that Hong Kong was fully back in business.

[227] Lee previously held British citizenship, which he relinquished in August 2012 to follow the legal requirements for assuming the under secretary for security position.

[236][237] In August 2020, Lee and ten other officials were sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury under Executive Order 13936 by President Trump for undermining Hong Kong's autonomy.

[238][239][240] He owns a flat at King's Park Villa in Ho Man Tin, bought in 1997 for HK $12.5 million and fully paid off, eliminating possible issues from his bank and the US sanctions.

His Facebook and Instagram pages were still functional, but their payment feature was disabled by Meta, who operates the two social media platforms, for reasons similar to Google's.

[247][248][249] While Chan was meeting with leaders including US President Joe Biden, Lee was seen pictured in Hong Kong with a roasted pig and legislative council members.