Profile of Carrie Lam: whom China plans to replace with 'interim' chief executive - report

Record ID: 1438308

  • Title: Profile of Carrie Lam: whom China plans to replace with 'interim' chief executive - report
  • Date: 23rd October 2019
  • Summary: Thousands of Hong Kong villagers and residents took to the streets in 2012 to protest against the government's plan to turn the border's rural areas into new towns which critics feared would be occupied by people from mainland China. The demonstrators objected to what they called the government's ambition to turn Hong Kong into a backyard or special zone for the neighbouring Chinese city of Shenzhen. Hong Kong's then-number two official, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, said talks of a "Shenzhen backyard" were unfounded. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 22, 2012) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS WITH PLACARDS GATHERED AT PARK SHOUTING "WITHDRAW" SIGN READING (Chinese): "SPECIAL COMMERCIAL ZONE" PROTESTERS
  • Embargoed: 6th November 2019 08:34
  • Keywords: Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam profile extradition law Carrie Lam Lam Hong Kong leader
  • Location: HONG KONG, BEIJING, CHINA/ TOKYO, JAPAN
  • City: HONG KONG, BEIJING, CHINA/ TOKYO, JAPAN
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001B2CFZ9J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: China is drawing up a plan to replace Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam with an "interim" chief executive, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday (October 22), citing people briefed on the deliberations, which would bring to a close Lam's rule after months of often-violent pro-democracy protests.
    Lam became a lightning rod for protests over fears that Beijing was tightening its grip, limiting the freedoms enjoyed under the "one country, two systems" principle enshrined when colonial ruler Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997.
    If Chinese President Xi Jinping decides to go ahead, Lam's successor would be appointed by March and cover the remainder of her term, which ends in 2022, the newspaper said.
    The leading candidates to succeed Lam include Norman Chan, the former head of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and Henry Tang, who has also served as the territory's financial secretary and chief secretary for administration, the report said.
    In September, in response to a Reuters report about a recording of Lam saying she would step down if she could, she said she had never asked the Chinese government to let her resign to end the Chinese-ruled city's political crisis.
    (Production: Joseph Campbell)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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