Carrie Lam defends value of election process for Hong Kong’s chief executive post as Beijing mulls drastic overhaul of system

CY Leung, the city leader’s predecessor, on Monday noted the position could also be filled ‘through consultations’

The Post previously reported China’s top legislative body could abolish some of the 1,200 Election Committee seats likely to go to opposition district councillors

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Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam meets the press ahead of her Executive Council meeting on Tuesday. Photo: May Tse

Published: 2:25pm, 19 Jan 2021Updated: 11:35pm, 19 Jan 2021

Hong Kong’s leader has distanced herself from a suggestion by her predecessor that the city’s next chief executive could be selected without an electoral process.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Tuesday said elections were important because the polls allowed hopefuls to elaborate on their vision for Hong Kong.

“[The process] not only allows a chief executive to be elected, it lets candidates explain to the whole society their expectations and policies for the city,” she said ahead of her weekly Executive Council meeting.

But Lam also warned that while Beijing was sincere about democratic reforms in Hong Kong, it had no choice but to take action when the city’s situation became worrying.

I think whether it is from the perspective of historical development, or the social effects of an election, it’s better for the chief executive to be elected

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam

Lam’s comments came ahead of a three-day meeting of China’s top legislative body, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, that begins on Wednesday. Sources previously told the Post the committee would discuss ways to retaliate against London’s visa scheme for those with British National (Overseas) status as well as drastic reforms of Hong Kong’s electoral system ahead of the city’s next chief executive election in 2022.