Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor wins HK chief executive election
HONG KONG - Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor won the election of the fifth-term chief executive of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)yesterday , vowing to lead Hong Kong forward in solidarity.
The Electoral Affairs Commission of the Hong Kong SAR declared that Lam garnered 777 of 1,163 valid votes, followed by Tsang Chun-wah with 365 and Woo Kwok-hing with 21. A candidate wins the election when he or she obtains more than 600 valid votes in any round of voting and will be appointed by the central government, according to Hong Kong’s Basic Law and the Chief Executive Election Ordinance. After the appointment, the winner will take oath of office on July 1 and become the fifth-term chief executive.
Lam, 59, said in her speech to the press after winning the election that she is ready to begin a new chapter in the journey together with the Hong Kong people. Lam said she will discuss with people from various sectors on the development of Hong Kong, such as applying new resources in education, tackling housing problem and introducing new financial and tax measures.
She also pledged to do her utmost to uphold “one country, two systems” and to guard Hong Kong’s core values. In her manifesto, Lam proposed to increase the recurrent expenditure for education by 5 billion HK dollars (about 644 million U.S. dollars). She said she would reach out to various stakeholders and legislators to discuss and decide how to apply these new resources. As for economic development, Lam proposed to apply financial and tax measures in a strategic way, by introducing a two-tier profits tax system and tax deductions to incentivize research and development. She said she would invite employers and employees in all sectors as well as experts and academics to come up with ideas to help devise new plans.
On the housing issue, Lam had pledged to help Hong Kong people attain home ownership and to improve living conditions. The key is to reach consensus on how to increase land supply, she said during the speech. Meanwhile, another candidate Tsang Chunwah conceded his defeat and called on his supporters to back the upcoming new administration. Incumbent Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying congratulated Lam for winning the election yesterday. Leung said the present-term government of the Hong Kong SAR and he himself will ensure a seamless transition, adding that they will fully support the preparation for forming the new term of government. Between 2000 and 2017, Lam held various posts in the Hong Kong SAR government, including director of Social Welfare Department; permanent secretary for housing, planning and lands; director-general of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, as well as permanent secretary for home affairs. She was appointed secretary for development in 2007. In 2012, she was appointed chief secretary for administration.
(Xinhua/foto: Xinhua)