Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says official posts will be given ‘on merit’
Responding to speculation that pro-Beijing educator Christine Choi Yuk-lin was in line to become the next education undersecretary, city’s chief executive said critics should not to judge potential candidates based on their political affiliation
The comment was a response to speculation that pro-Beijing educator Christine Choi Yuk-lin was in line to become the next education undersecretary.
Choi, vice-chairwoman of the Beijing-friendly Federation of Education Workers, ran as lawmaker for the education functional constituency in the Legislative Council elections last September. She lost heavily to Professional Teachers’ Union (PTU) vice-president and pan-democrat Ip Kin-yuen – 18,158 votes to 45,984 – meaning her appointment will upset opposition ranks.
Two groups of teachers launched online petitions urging Lam not to appoint Choi, and the petitions were signed by more than 5,700 and 1,400 people, respectively.
In a gathering with reporters on Thursday, Lam was asked if the petitions showed that the education sector believed Choi should not get the job.
“It would be unfair to say that is the sector’s consensus. Wong Kwan-yu is not saying so,” Lam answered, citing the federation’s president.