Premier says incoming chief executive will ‘unite and lead’ Hong Kong
Premier Li Keqiang has expressed confidence that Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor can unite Hong Kong as the central government on Friday appointed her to become the city’s next chief executive on July 1. “The election result in favour of Lam fully reflects the widespread recognition, trust and expectation across all sectors in Hong Kong society,” Li told a State Council meeting on Friday. Li said: “The [central authorities] believe that after she becomes chief executive, she will definitely be able to unite and lead the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and people from all walks of life in Hong Kong.” The premier also called for “concrete measures” from Lam to deepen Hong Kong’s collaboration with the mainland. Lam expressed her gratitude for the appointment, adding: “ I will do my utmost with humility to implement the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, ‘Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong’ and a high degree of autonomy strictly in accordance with the Basic Law.” Under Hong Kong’s Basic Law, the central government appoints the city’s leader after they have been picked by the Election Committee. Lam won 777 votes from the 1,194-member Election Committee on Sunday, while her closest rival John Tsang Chun-wah won 365 and former judge Woo Kwok-hing got 21 votes. Li described the election as “open, fair and just” and conducted in accordance with Beijing’s decisions and Hong Kong laws, thereby dismissing accusations that Lam had an unfair edge as mainland officials lobbied various quarters for her votes.
