Regina Ip says Beijing offered her top jobs to quit Hong Kong leadership race

Pro-establishment lawmaker also criticises her election rival Carrie Lam, saying former chief secretary has served too long in the administration

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Regina Ip has secured only about 20 votes so far from the Election Committee that will pick the city’s leader next month. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 10:45pm, 23 Feb 2017Updated: 11:52am, 24 Feb 2017

Chief executive contender Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee has spoken out against “insecure” leaders in Beijing, saying she has rejected offers of top appointments to national bodies in exchange for dropping out of Hong Kong’s leadership race.

The pro-establishment lawmaker also criticised her election rival, former chief secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, describing her as “Regina Ip” from a decade ago who thought everything she did was right.

“[Lam] was like what I was some 10 years ago,” Ip said in an interview with Cable TV, referring to her own deep unpopularity when she stepped down as security chief in 2003.

“[She] always fights with those who hold different opinions as she has spent too long in the administration and hears only one side of voices – just like how I was before.”

Ip, who has secured only about 20 votes so far from the Election Committee that will pick the city’s leader next month, is facing an uphill battle to get the 150 nominations required by next Wednesday to enter the race. Her situation contrasts sharply with that of Lam, once Ip’s subordinate, and now the leading contender who already has double the nominations she needs.

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