Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s talk of ‘visionary’ policy address sparks speculation she is aiming for another five-year term
- Analysts say policy speech could serve as a ‘remarketing’ exercise for her to convince Beijing she should be allowed another five years in office
- But critics suggest her failure to address long-standing housing shortages will raise doubts as to whether she can command the public’s support
Analysts said the policy speech, the final one in Lam’s current term, could serve as a “remarketing” exercise for her to convince Beijing that she should be allowed another five years in office, while some critics suggested her failure to address long-standing housing shortages would raise doubts as to whether she could command the public’s support.
Speculation grew about Lam’s plans after she said on Sunday she would outline her vision for Hong Kong over the next five to 10 years in her policy address.
It could sound more like a policy blueprint penned by a chief executive who had just assumed office, Lam said in a radio interview, adding: “I have been prepared to hear criticism that it’s ‘empty talk’, ‘an armchair strategy’.”
Lau Siu-kai, a vice-chairman of semi-official think tank the Chinese Association for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said Lam could be dropping hints.