Tearful Carrie Lam says she put reputation on the line
Chief secretary blames national education controversy for damaging her approval rating, as she loses her composure in TV interview
Losing her composure, Lam said that becoming entangled in the controversial national education debate had damaged people's faith in her.
"Someone said I have had my popularity diminished by getting into the controversy of national education. Perhaps they are right," she conceded.
"I said before that I didn't care much about my popularity. But did I make use of it? Yes," Lam told Cable TV yesterday.
Despite entering her third month in the new administration facing strong public opposition to most policies, Lam defended Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying for having the courage to speak up for the city's interests.
"I decided to be part of Leung's team because I would have let people down if I, as an official who was relatively popular in the last administration, just left the government behind.
"That would have been jumping ship," she said, tears rolling down her face.