‘Not all of you need to go into banking’ Hong Kong’s No 2 official tells youth after museum controversy

Hong Kong’s No 2 official has reached out to the city’s youth in trying to justify her controversial deal with Beijing to build a HK$3.5 billion museum, saying it would send out an encouraging message that “not all of you need to go into banking”.

The issue is seen as a leadership test for Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, whose expected bid for the city’s top job was the subject of more speculation as it emerged on Monday that a company was set up by Ronald Arculli in October, and Laurence Li was appointed director in December. The two are core members of Lam’s planned campaign committee.

While no link to Lam has been made, it has not stopped speculation that she might have planned to run before Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced last month that he would not seek a second term.

The authority said the meeting was deferred to this (Tuesday) afternoon following a scheduled meeting of the board as it wanted to first “consolidate” responses to public concerns on various issues.

Speaking at a school in Siu Sai Wan celebrating 20 years since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Lam said a major focus was on the city’s youth to mark the handover anniversary.