The National - News

Μ LAM TAKES LEAD IN HONG KONG

Pro-China candidate Carrie Lam picked as chief executive

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First woman chief of island territory voted in, but opponents are unhappy,

HONG KONG // The candidate favoured by China’s leadership was chosen as Hong Kong’s leader yesterday.

It was the first such vote since huge pro- democracy protests erupted over the city’s election system in 2014.

Carrie Lam, viewed as tough and capable by supporters but hated by the pro- democracy camp, faces a difficult task in calming political tensions in the divided city.

Voted in as chief executive by a committee dominated by pro-Beijing elites, Ms Lam received 67 per cent of the votes and will become Hong Kong’s first female leader and its fourth since British colonial rule ended in 1997. Ms Lam received 777 of the 1,163 votes. Her closest rival, John Tsang, got 365 votes, or 31 per cent, while the third candidate, retired judge Woo Kwokhing, had 21 votes. Critics said Ms Lam would further polarise a society riven by protests of two years ago that centred on fears of China’s growing influence.

Ms Lam rose through the ranks as a career civil servant before taking public office.

She served as deputy to Hong Kong’s departing leader Leung Chun-ying and is tainted by her associatio­n with Mr Leung, an unpopular figure who was criticised for doing Beijing’s bidding while in office. Ms Lam is nicknamed “lai ma” or “wet nurse” by opponents in a jibe over what they say was fawning loyalty to her former boss. Her negative image among activists was sealed when she promoted a Beijing-backed reform package rejected as “fake democracy” by opponents.

The plan triggered mass street protests in 2014 that paralysed the city for more than two months but failed to win concession­s from Beijing on fully free leadership elections. Ms Lam, 59, has made no commitment to revisit the political reform debate, instead trying to connect with the public on livelihood issues. She cast herself as a force for change on the campaign trail, focusing on issues such as poverty and housing, which have also fuelled unrest.

Although she was well behind Mr Tsang in most opinion polls before the vote, she had strong support among older residents. Mr Tsang, a former finance minister, is viewed as a more moderate establishm­ent figure and won backing from young people.

Ms Lam was widely perceived as Beijing’s favoured candidate throughout the race and was viewed as the most likely winner.

Her resignatio­n from her position as deputy leader in January, a move that signalled her candidacy, was quickly endorsed by Beijing.

Ms Lam has promised to build consensus and “restore faith and hope” in Hong Kong. But she also said she would “strengthen the relationsh­ip between Hong Kong and China”.

Ms Lam has also stressed that there is no room for independen­ce for the city, responding to a rise in calls for a direct split from China by some young activists – a sentiment viewed as unthinkabl­e a few years ago.

Ms Lam will take office on July 1, succeeding Mr Leung, who cited family reasons when he ruled out a second term.

Career civil servant known as ‘wet nurse’ for fawning loyalty to former pro-Beijing boss

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 ?? Vincent Yu / AP Photo ?? Carrie Lam celebrates with her husband, Lam Siu-por, after being elected as the chief executive yesterday in Hong Kong. A committee dominated by pro-Beijing elites chose the former chief secretary as leader of the special administra­tive region.
Vincent Yu / AP Photo Carrie Lam celebrates with her husband, Lam Siu-por, after being elected as the chief executive yesterday in Hong Kong. A committee dominated by pro-Beijing elites chose the former chief secretary as leader of the special administra­tive region.

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