Carrie Lam grilled over business chiefs on advisory team
Former chief secretary introduces star-studded campaign team at rally
This was SCMP’s live coverage of chief executive contender Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s campaign rally. The former chief secretary, who is seen in some quarters as Beijing’s preferred candidate, kicked off the event at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai at 3.30pm with a thicket of Hong Kong’s Who’s Who in attendance.
4.45pm – Inclusive tent
In a question and answer session with the media, Carrie Lam is asked whether the presence of heads of conglomerates and developers on her advisory team means she will favour businesses instead of the grassroots.
“My team also comprises [people from] the women’s sector and the social sector,” she says. “But developing the economy is indeed important for Hong Kong.”
“Many friends from the business sector wanted to join my team because they feared I would be doing too much on social welfare,” she says, adding that their participation could help dispel the misconception that she would focus on social welfare at the expense of the business sector.
Lam is also asked how she will lobby for pan-democrats, none of whom are present.