Hong Kong’s pro-government camp put in impossible situation by opposition’s futile bid to unseat city leader Carrie Lam
- Frustrated pro-establishment camp vexed by chief executive’s aloof manner and inability to curb roiling protests that have lasted almost six months
- But leader of largest pro-Beijing party Starry Lee admits unseating Lam would only create more chaos, instability and a power vacuum
Pro-Beijing lawmakers in Hong Kong have slammed the city’s leader as “aloof” and unable to curb months of social unrest, but they still blocked a motion from the opposition aiming to unseat her.
A motion to remove Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor from office, launched under Article 73 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, failed to pass through the Legislative Council on Thursday. It received 16 votes for and 14 against in the geographical constituency and 10 votes for and 22 against in the functional constituency. The motion needed a majority in both constituencies to pass.
Six pro-establishment members were absent from the vote, including Liberal Party leader Felix Chung Kwok-pan, Roundtable’s Michael Tien Puk-sun and Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, of the Business and Professionals Alliance.
Before the vote, Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said on behalf of the government that the withdrawal of the extradition bill had put a “perfect full stop” to the source of the conflict.
“People’s concerns should have been completely alleviated,” Cheung said.
