Carrie Lam spurs outrage among Hong Kong protesters for not taking petition as promised
City’s former No 2 official also criticised for past policies at event with social workers
During the event with social workers, she also attracted criticism for her past policies, even though it was the profession with which she worked closely when she was social services director and chief secretary. However, her pledge to plan for a children’s commission upon winning the March 26 election received praise.
Social welfare was Lam’s strong point throughout her public service experience, but now it has put her in a difficult position especially among business sectors which fear she would support welfarism to the detriment of economic development.
Though she has sought to allay such worries, she has, at the same time, appealed to the general public by reiterating her continued focus on helping the poor, the old and the needy.
The welfare sector in the Election Committee did not give the former chief secretary any nominations as it comprised only pan-democrats, who view Lam as a pro-Beijing figure.
Her attempt to win social workers’ hearts further turned sour on Friday when her team decided to bypass dozens of protesters from grassroots and pro-workers’ groups at a forum organised by the welfare sector in Wan Chai. They were petitioning for universal pension and democracy.