Profile of Carrie Lam: whom China plans to replace with 'interim' chief executive - report
Record ID:
1438311
Profile of Carrie Lam: whom China plans to replace with 'interim' chief executive - report
- Title: Profile of Carrie Lam: whom China plans to replace with 'interim' chief executive - report
- Date: 23rd October 2019
- Summary: Lam said on July 2 that many had been saddened by the "extreme use of violence and vandalism by protesters" after police fired tear gas to disperse protesters who had charged the legislature, destroying pictures and daubing walls with graffiti, on the anniversary of the city's 1997 return to Chinese rule the day before. The extraordinary violence marked an escalation in the weeks-long movement against the extradition law. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - JULY 2, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** LAM ARRIVING TO ADDRESS JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HONG KONG LEADER, CARRIE LAM, SAYING: "The second scene that we have seen which really saddens a lot of people and shocks a lot of people is the extreme use of violence and vandalism by protesters who stormed into the Legislative Council building over a period of time. So this is something that we should seriously condemn." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS LAM LEAVING Lam faced a tough grilling by reporters on August 13 during a weekly news briefing, in which she evaded questions on whether she has the autonomy to scrap an extradition bill without Beijing's approval. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - AUGUST 13, 2019) (REUTERS) HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE CARRIE LAM ARRIVING AT WEEKLY NEWS BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (English) HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CARRIE LAM, SAYING: REPORTER: "Do you have the autonomy or not to withdraw the extradition bill please? Could you answer that specific question?" "In response to the various demands that we have heard, we have considered all factors and came up with a response that we have rehearsed time and again over the last two months. Thank you very much." REPORTER: "Do you have the autonomy or not to withdraw the extradition bill?" MAN: "She has answered your question, please." REPORTER: "You have not answered the question, you've evaded the question. Please, Chief Executive. Do you have the autonomy to withdraw the bill or not? Or does Beijing need to give approval of that?" CARRIE LAM: "I have already answered the question." NEWS BRIEFING IN PROGRESS, REPORTERS INTERJECTING LAM LEAVING CONFERENCE
- 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: LVA00GB2CFZ9J
- 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.
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