Profile of Carrie Lam: whom China plans to replace with 'interim' chief executive - report
Record ID:
1438315
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 urged an immediate end to independence debates in the Chinese-ruled global financial hub, warning that the issue was harming the city's relationship with Beijing's Communist Party leaders. Insisting that the government did not want to intervene on university campuses against those who have been flying independence banners, Lam said the campaign was "organized and systematic" rather than simply an issue of freedom of speech. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 11, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BLACK BANNER READING (Chinese): "HONG KONG INDEPENDENCE" HANGING AT CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG STUDENTS LOOKING AT HONG KONG INDEPENDENCE POSTERS HONG KONG INDEPENDENCE POSTERS POSTERS READING (English/Chinese): "FIGHT FOR OUR HOMELAND / FIGHT FOR HONG KONG INDEPENDENCE"
- 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: LVA007B2CFZ9J
- 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)
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