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Carrie Lam
Hong KongPolitics

First group of Hong Kong pan-democrats to have met Carrie Lam are willing to give her ‘benefit of the doubt’

Seven lawmakers from the Professionals Guild discussed issues of political reform and social divide with city’s next leader

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(From left) Edward You Chung-yim, Joseph Lee Kok-long, Ip Kin-yuen, Kenneth Leung, Dennis Kwok Wing-hang, Charles Mok and Shiu Ka-chun from the Professionals Guild are the first group from the pan-democratic camp to meet with chief executive-elect Carrie Lam. Photo: Felix Wong
Kimmy Chung
Hong Kong chief executive-elect Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s first meeting with pan-democrats since winning the election ended on a positive note despite the camp earlier saying they had “no basis of mutual trust” with her.

Seven lawmakers from the Professionals Guild held a 90-minute meeting on Monday with the city’s next leader, touching on hot button topics such as constitutional reform.

Convenor Dennis Kwok Wing-hang said he sensed that Lam was sincere about healing divisions in society and improving her relationship with lawmakers.

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(From left) Liberal Party's Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, party leader Felix Chung Kwok-pan and James Tien Pei-chun are upbeat about their relationship with the incoming administration. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
(From left) Liberal Party's Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, party leader Felix Chung Kwok-pan and James Tien Pei-chun are upbeat about their relationship with the incoming administration. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

During the chief executive election in March, pan-democrats threw their weight behind Lam’s rival, John Tsang Chun-wah, and even declared they had “no basis of mutual trust” with Lam.

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Kwok said after the meeting: “We will give her the benefit of the doubt for now. We are willing to work together if she is genuine in repairing the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of the government.”

Kwok said they had made it clear to Lam that she must consider the subject of constitutional reform. According to him, Lam’s response was that she would consider the issue within her five-year term, but that society’s divisions have to be healed first.
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