Carrie Lam admits lobbying by Beijing liaison office in Hong Kong leadership race ‘may not work in her favour’

The front runner in Hong Kong’s chief executive race, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, has for the first time admitted that the lobbying by Beijing’s liaison office for her campaign is “not favourable” to her and may create a negative public perception.

Speaking on a radio show on Saturday, the former chief secretary was again asked how she felt after a number of Beijing loyalists had indicated she was the preferred choice.

Lam said it was understandable the central government was concerned about the election, “but if people feel more and more there is an external force helping, it may not be the most favourable to the candidate”.

Such help would also create a negative perception, she said, noting a recent poll showed that the majority of respondents wished to see real competition among candidates rather than other people stating their preferences.

The Post reported last week that Hong Kong’s richest man, Li Ka-shing, and his two sons were persuaded by Beijing’s No 3 man Zhang Dejiang over a meal last month to vote for Lam on March 26. Younger son Richard Li Tzar-kai told the press last week he would vote for Lam.

Lam said she did not know what exactly mainland officials had been doing or saying to Election Committee members, but she did hear from some and learnt from reports that “the situation certainly existed”.

Explaining her earlier remark that she would quit if mainstream opinion in society clashed with her duty to execute the Basic Law, Lam said she would try to prevent the need to resign from arising by better communication with the people and Beijing.