Female leaders in politics, business and society welcome milestone win

Hong Kong’s first female Chief Executive-elect Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor vowed on Sunday to lead as an example for women in the city. In her new position, Lam said she would encourage more women to engage in social affairs and contribute to a better Hong Kong.

“I believe a comprehensive and stable development calls for gender equality. I hope more women are willing to step out, not only to serve for public office, but also to engage in politics,” Lam said.

She made the remarks after a sweeping win in the city ’s Chief Executive election, taking 777 votes — more than two-thirds of the valid votes cast.

In f l u e n t i a l w o m e n f i g u r e s a t home and abroad have endorsed her success, describing her victory as a meaningful pat on the back of women in the city.

Ho n g Ko n g h a s 3 . 9 4 m i l l i o n women and 3.37 million men. But the labor-force participation rate of women, at 55. 3 percent, is 13 percentage points lower than that of men, according to data by the Census and Statistics Department.

Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, legislator and member of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong , said the city would benefit from having the first female CE as Lam — who is also a wife and mother — would bring her firsthand experience in dealing with elderly and younger generations to the policymaking process, making relevant measures close to those in need.

L eung , who has worked with Lam in the Legislative Council meetings, said the CE-elect was a “direct and sincere” person; such characters were considered most important in executive-legislature relations.

N o t i n g L a m’s v i c t o r y w a s a n “expected result”, Leung said most of the Election Committee members are mature in politics, preferring to choose a candidate who could implement sound policies from the previous government in a stable and continuous manner.

Hong Kong’s sole National Peop l e’s C o n g r e s s ( N P C ) S t a n d i n g Committee member and former LegCo president Rita Fan Hsu Laitai echoed Leung . She said she voted for Lam as a “responsive, committed and responsible” candidate.

Fan stressed that when facing criticism from the opposition camp, Lam remained sincere and willing to communicate; she b e l i e v e d L a m c o u l d l e a d Ho n g Kong through difficult times.

Another prominent local woman leader — Starry Lee Wai-king, legislator and chairwoman of Hong Kong’s biggest political party, the Democratic Alliance for the Bett e r m e n t a n d Pr o g r e s s o f Ho n g Kong — said L am’s vote tally of 777 proved she secured extensive support from various sectors in the city.

Lee said being a woman, she was touched by Lam’s commitment to society; this deserved respect from Hong Kong people.

L am was also hailed by Hong Kong’s woman business leaders. Businesswoman and NPC deputy Pauline Ngan Po-ling said Lam’s victory served as “a great booster”