Advertisement

Carrie Lam could face crisis if she wins CE race only with help of pro-Beijing camp, rival Regina Ip says

NPP chair says former chief secretary’s credibility will be affected if citizens scrutinise source of her votes

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Former chief secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is seen by many to be Beijing’s favoured candidate. Photo: Felix Wong

The woman seen as Beijing’s preferred choice in Hong Kong’s leadership race may face a governing crisis if she wins solely ­because of the pro-establishment camp’s backing, even if by a landslide, her rival has warned.

Former security minister ­Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who is ­also running for chief executive, cautioned yesterday that the overwhelming support for former chief secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor from the Beijing-friendly camp, especially its newspapers, could be counter-productive and end up harming Lam’s campaign.

“[The support] is too one-sided [in Lam’s favour], and that is not very good,” Ip said on a radio show. “It might not be a good thing for her, and she knows that.”

Advertisement
Leadership hopeful Regina Ip lightens the mood by showing off her shoe during a radio show with Stephen Chan Chi Wan. Photo: Commercial Radio
Leadership hopeful Regina Ip lightens the mood by showing off her shoe during a radio show with Stephen Chan Chi Wan. Photo: Commercial Radio
Ip’s warning came after Lamadmitted there would be questions about her governance if she was voted into office as the city’s next leader by the 1,194-member Election Committee in March but trailed her rivals in the popularity stakes.
Advertisement
Ip, a lawmaker and head of the New People’s Party, noted that Lam was the only contender for the top job who did not have to worry about securing the 150 nominations required to qualify as a candidate – especially when figures such as pro-Beijing heavyweight Lo Man-tuen and lawmaker Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan had joined the former chief secretary’s campaign office.

Lo is a delegate to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, while Cheung is from the pro-establishment Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, which has secured more than 100 seats on the Election Committee.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x