Will Hong Kong see the Carrie Lam honeymoon last?

Mike Rowse says the inclusive style of the new chief executive sets her apart from her predecessor, and, until the uproar over the disqualification of four lawmakers, the way the pan-democrats had responded shows respect begets respect

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Pro-establishment and pan-democrat lawmakers alike turn out in force at the first luncheon hosted for Chief Executive Carrie Lam (seated, fifth left) and her government team, at Tamar on July 10. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 5:33pm, 16 Jul 2017Updated: 6:23pm, 16 Jul 2017

Almost all incoming heads of government get a grace period while they are settling into their new position. How leaders use this “honeymoon” spell creates the mood for their term of office. The difference in style between Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her predecessor, Leung Chun-ying, could hardly be sharper.

Between his surprise victory in March 2012, and formally taking up office on July 1 that year, Leung went all out to bulldoze some quick wins through the Legislative Council. He sent top aide Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun to make the case for the creation of four new minister posts, one each for culture and technology, plus two deputies to underpin the chief secretary and financial secretary. While there was considerable support for the first two, many members had reservations about the proposed new deputies.

Watch: Carrie Lam attends first Legco Q&A session as chief executive

Then Civic Party leader Alan Leong Kah-kit made a compromise offer: his party would support the posts for culture and technology, but wanted more time to consider the other two. After consulting her boss, Law rejected the deal, it was to be all or nothing. In the event, it was nothing, and indeed it was another three years before the technology post could be created. Culture and the deputies sank without a trace.

The outcome was not just a defeat for Leung, the manner of it created ill feeling which lingered throughout the next five years.

Hong Kong lawmakers turn out in force for first lunch gathering with new leader Carrie Lam

Now consider how Lam handled her honeymoon period. In the interim before being sworn in, she kept mostly silent, but, as soon as the ceremony was over, came out all guns blazing with her HK$5 billion spending package on education. It is easy to be cynical and say if you are spending money you are bound to be popular. That would be simplistic and unfair. After all, Leung’s proposal would also cost money. The perception in the earlier case was that the proposal was to reward political allies, while Lam’s was derived from a wish list people in the sector had been talking about.

Carrie Lam meets the media after visiting her alma mater, St Francis’ Canossian College in Wan Chai, on July 11. She gave the students her best wishes for the DSE results the following day. Photo: Sam Tsang