The UK local elections are set for May 7th. As the Hong Kong community settles into life in the UK, at least 18 candidates with Hong Kong backgrounds are standing for election this year—a pool that is becoming increasingly diverse. However, among the many candidates, one name stands out: Sheung-yuen Lee, who is running for Reform UK in the Southall Broadway ward of Ealing, London.

Currently describing himself as a piano teacher, Lee is far from an ordinary citizen. He joined the HKSAR government as an Administrative Officer (AO) in 1999 and served for over 24 years, including roles as Political Assistant to the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development and Assistant Commissioner for Tourism. Before leaving the civil service, he reached the senior Directorate Grade 3 (D3) rank, concurrently serving as the Director of both the Bangkok and Jakarta Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO). In short, he was a senior official who once swore an oath of loyalty to the HKSAR government.

In a twist of irony, Lee publicly thanked China for its “full support” in 2022, praising the National Security Law and the “improved” electoral system. Now in the UK, he is running for the right-wing Reform UK—a party led by Nigel Farage, who has famously condemned the CCP for tearing up its “50 years unchanged” promise to Hong Kong. Facing this massive political U-turn, we reached out to Lee for an interview. However, he executed his first “sharp turn” by declining, claiming he needed to “commit fully to his election campaign.”

From a high-ranking HK official who swore an oath of loyalty, to a Reform UK candidate in a British democratic election: has Lee observed the mandatory “cooling-off” period required for departing civil servants? And in a ward that is 80% Asian and a long-time Labour stronghold, can a candidate representing the anti-immigration Reform party truly pull off a victory?