As Hong Kong security chief, Lee oversaw the crackdown by local police and government against pro-democracy activists during the massive protests in 2019. The United States has imposed sanctions on him and ten other officials for the crackdown.
That Lee would become the new director of Hong Kong was actually already known in advance. He was the only candidate for the position. Not the inhabitants of the city, but the 1461 members of a strongly pro-Beijing oriented electoral commission cast their votes. 1,416 of them supported Lee. Eight members voted against appointing Lee and the rest did not vote.