Carrie Lam says she could lose Hong Kong chief executive race in showdown with John Tsang

Ex-chief secretary also admits reluctance to do unfamiliar things and struggle to adapt to new life following her resignation

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Lam visiting Aberdeen on Friday. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 11:15pm, 22 Jan 2017Updated: 9:29am, 23 Jan 2017

Chief executive contender Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has admitted she could lose when members of the election panel make their choices in a secret ballot if her rival John Tsang Chun-wah musters enough nominations for a final vote showdown on March 26.

“I know well some business people have reservations about me. Some said I don’t have a good grasp of economic and financial affairs. Others criticise me for spending too much on welfare,” she said.

In a Chinese University poll conducted earlier this month, Tsang led Lam by 4.4 percentage points. But nearly half the respondents said Lam stood a higher chance of winning the top job.

The former chief secretary said yesterday that while she recognised the need to boost her popularity, she would stay the person she was when campaigning.

“It would sound odd if you did something you wouldn’t normally do,” she said. “I’d like to do something of which I have a track record, such as visiting people in the community with whom I have maintained contact for years.”

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