Lam has the right qualities to be CE: Rita Fan

The outgoing Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor possesses the needed qualities for Hong Kong’s top job because she is “a great listener and doer”, said Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, the sole Hong Kong member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC).

Fan is also a member of the city’s Election Committee which chooses the Chief Executive.

She made the remarks on Friday, a day after Lam resigned from the post of chief secretary for administration to run in the Chief Executive election.

“It is a good thing she will join in the race,” Fan said, adding that the move will also offer more choices to electors.

“Lam is a highly capable person with strong principles,” Fan told China Daily. “She is also very hard-working and not afraid of tackling difficult problems.”

Beyond that, Fan said Lam is a great listener. She is willing to communicate with different people and listen to different opinions, Fan said. It could be seen in meetings with environmentalists on the relocation of the Queen’s Pier, while Lam was secretary for development, and face-to-face talks with student protesters during the 79-day illegal occupation in 2014.

She added it is very important for the CE of Hong Kong to have the trust of the central government in order to win the best interests for Hong Kong. Fan believes Lam already has it.

Apart from Lam’s merits in tackling livelihood issues and strengthening the Hong Kongmainland cooperation, Fan is impressed with Lam’s handling of the electoral reform in 2015 although it was unfortunately vetoed by the opposition.

Fan said Lam had done all she could to promote the reform. It was not her fault but the opposition who refused to accept the NPCSC’s framework on electoral reform, which in Fan’s view provided ample room for discussion.

Looking forward, Fan hoped Lam, if elected, would do two major things. “She should unite different sections of society and identify new opportunities for economic development of Hong Kong,” she suggested.

Fan said she is still undecided about whether she will nominate Lam and vote for her, adding she will wait until all candidates publish their election manifestos before making a decision.

Lam is a highly capable person with strong principles.”

Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress