Lam resigns to contest HK leader election
Print Edition
HONG Kong’s No. 2 official Carrie Lam, nicknamed “the fighter,” resigned yesterday to contest a March election to become the financial hub’s chief executive and first female leader.
Lam, 59, has served as the special region’s chief secretary since 2012 and is known for her no-nonsense approach to overseeing the civil service.
“I told the chief executive in my resignation letter that there is only one reason for me to resign at this juncture, and that is if my resignation is approved by the central people’s government, I intend to prepare to contest in the upcoming chief executive election,” Lam told reporters.
Lam, a career civil servant often appearing in elegant Chinese cheongsam dresses, is seen as one of the frontrunners in the race to lead the territory, which is governed under a “one country, two systems” principle, granting it a high degree of autonomy under China’s sovereignty.
Former Financial Secretary John Tsang, who resigned in mid-December, is also expected to run for the top post.
He hasn’t made a formal announcement and his resignation has yet to be approved.
Incumbent leader Leung Chun-ying surprised many in December when he said he wouldn’t seek a second five-year term.
A committee of 1,200 people will select potential candidates.
Lam came second in a popularity poll of potential candidates, trailing Tsang, according to a Chinese University survey of more than 1,000 people.
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