Lam draws strong support in poll

Chief Executive candidate Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor leads an opinion poll released on Thursday, with support from 71.7 percent of respondents; the majority of those surveyed consider her the person most likely to win Hong Kong’s upcoming CE election.

The public opinion survey conducted by the Democratic Alliance for the Progress and Betterment of Hong Kong between March 16 and 20 showed Lam won the strongest support among the three candidates in terms of governing ability and trust by the central government.

More than half of the 730 respondents believe Lam has done a better job demonstrating her abilities to govern than the other two candidates — former financial secretary John Tsang Chun-wah and retired judge Woo Kwok-hing.

More than 83 percent of respondents also believe she can earn the trust of the central government.

Another poll by the Hong Kong Research Association showed Lam had been leading since last month. The survey, carried out each week after the nomination period ended on March 1, sees Lam ahead of the other two candidates by increasing margins — in terms of public support as the next Chief Executive.

In the latest one, released on Tuesday, 41 percent of the 1,300 respondents were inclined to support Lam as the city’s next leader, followed by 36 percent for Tsang. About 73 percent of those interviewed believe Lam will win the election.

The Chief Executive election will be held on Sunday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

A winning candidate must obtain at least 601 votes from the 1,194-strong Election Committee and be appointed by the central government.