Exclusive | Beijing’s heavy lobbying for Carrie Lam as Hong Kong leader could backfire, academic warns

Basic Law expert says central government’s level of support risks undermining trust in election system and in next chief executive’s mandate

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Tian Feilong, Beihang University associate law professor. Photo: Tony Cheung

Published: 9:02am, 13 Mar 2017Updated: 9:02am, 13 Mar 2017

A legal scholar has warned that Beijing’s strong support for chief executive contender Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor risks undermining Hong Kong people’s trust in the 1,194-member Election Committee as well as the mandate of the next leader.

In an exclusive interview with the Post, Beihang University associate law professor Tian Feilong also acknowledged that Beijing needed to take such an approach toensure “political security”.

Tian, 33, obtained his PhD from Peking University and researches on the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.

If the rules were followed as understood by Hongkongers, the poll would be recognised as competitive

Tian Feilong, Beihang University

He was speaking days after National People’s Congress chairman Zhang Dejiang, the state leader overseeing Hong Kong and Macau affairs, told the city’s deputies to national bodies that Beijing had a “substantive” power to appoint the chief executive, and that it hoped for the election of a leader who fitted four criteria: “love the country and love Hong Kong”, be trusted by Beijing, be capable of governing, and be supported by Hong Kong people.

Lam admitted in a recent interview with the Post that receiving help from Beijing and its liaison office in Hong Kong could be counterproductive for her campaign.