https://www.scmp.com/rss/142038/feed Carrie Lam has spent more than 36 years in public service in Hong Kong, serving in various positions including as permanent secretary for home affairs, secretary for development and chief secretary for administration. She is currently the chief executive of Hong Kong SAR. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Carrie Lam Carrie Lam Fellow Citizens, Hong Kong, the home we all treasure, is defined by the “Lion Rock spirit” by which we join hands to pursue our dreams while putting aside our differences. Since our return to the Motherland, Hong Kong has been a Special Administrative Region directly under the Central People’s Government, enjoying a high degree of autonomy and unique advantages under “One Country, Two Systems”. Over the past year, the Hong Kong community has been traumatised. Violence by rioters has escalated,... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/hong-kong/article/3086655/letter-carrie-lam-hong-kong-about-national-security-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/hong-kong/article/3086655/letter-carrie-lam-hong-kong-about-national-security-law?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2020 06:37:08 +0000 On April 4, 1990, the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was adopted by the seventh National People’s Congress of China. It enshrines the basic policies of the People’s Republic of China regarding Hong Kong and provides a solid constitutional basis for the implementation of “one country, two systems”. Looking back, we must not forget the purpose and mission of the Basic Law. It clearly states that Hong Kong has been part of the territory of China since ancient times... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3078341/why-basic-law-best-safeguard-hong-kongs-prosperity-and-stability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3078341/why-basic-law-best-safeguard-hong-kongs-prosperity-and-stability?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2020 23:00:18 +0000 I am delighted to congratulate the South China Morning Post on its 115th anniversary. The SCMP, Hong Kong’s major English-language daily newspaper, boasts a team of more than 300 reporters, editors, photographers and other media professionals. They are based not only in Hong Kong but in the paper’s four mainland Chinese bureaus (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen) and two United States bureaus (New York City and Washington) The award-winning newspaper provides valued, in-depth coverage of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/2171689/hong-kong-chief-executive-carrie-lam-south-china-morning-posts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/2171689/hong-kong-chief-executive-carrie-lam-south-china-morning-posts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Nov 2018 19:03:03 +0000 Following the announcement in my policy address on October 11 of a new initiative to revamp the Central Policy Unit and turn it into a Policy Innovation and Coordination Office, the government placed adverts on October 27 to invite individuals aspiring to pursue a career in public policy to apply for jobs in the new office. This initiative originated from a proposal in my election manifesto to provide more opportunities for young people from different backgrounds who are interested in policy... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2118173/revamped-think-tank-will-drive-policy-innovation-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2118173/revamped-think-tank-will-drive-policy-innovation-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Nov 2017 01:00:28 +0000 This week, we will know whether Hong Kong's 5 million eligible voters will be able to elect the chief executive through "one person, one vote" in 2017. On Wednesday, the secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs will move a motion at the Legislative Council to amend Annex I to the Basic Law. We expect the motion debate and vote to take place within this week. To date, 41 pro-establishment legislators have declared their support for the government's proposal which, if endorsed, will allow... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1820650/hong-kongs-future-hinges-pan-democrats-vote-political-reform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1820650/hong-kongs-future-hinges-pan-democrats-vote-political-reform?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jun 2015 01:00:48 +0000 The Hong Kong government yesterday released its proposals for the election of the chief executive in 2017 by universal suffrage. The proposals come after two rounds of public consultations that started back in December 2013 and ended last month. But these proposals are not just the culmination of a 16-month period of discussion, debate and, at times, divisive protest. They are the culmination of an 18-year journey for Hong Kong's political system since our return to China in 1997. They also... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1773683/hong-kong-must-take-road-less-travelled-and-support?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1773683/hong-kong-must-take-road-less-travelled-and-support?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2015 10:32:05 +0000 The second round of consultation on constitutional development has now been launched. Members of the public are invited to express their views on the method of universal suffrage to be adopted for the chief executive election in 2017. This is part of the preparation for step three of the "five-step process", which requires the government to propose a reform package to the Legislative Council. Following the National People's Congress Standing Committee decision on August 31, 23 pan-democratic... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1676343/hong-kong-must-step-forward-constitutional-reform-avoid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1676343/hong-kong-must-step-forward-constitutional-reform-avoid?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2015 11:00:14 +0000 The Commission on Poverty set the first official poverty line last year and pledged to monitor the situation in Hong Kong through annual updates of the poverty line analysis. Our original plan was to release the analysis of last year's situation at the second poverty commission summit, scheduled for early October. However, due to the Occupy Central movement, it could not be held. The analysis was finally released after the 15th meeting of the commission on Saturday. The poverty situation last... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1651054/government-measures-cut-poverty-hong-kong-are-delivering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1651054/government-measures-cut-poverty-hong-kong-are-delivering?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2014 19:24:46 +0000 The task force on constitutional development, which I headed, has submitted its consultation report to the chief executive, who has just made a report to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, inviting it to decide whether the methods for selecting the chief executive in 2017 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2016 should be amended. This is the first step which has formally kick-started the "five-step process" of constitutional development. During the consultation, we... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1555613/electoral-reform-hong-kong-must-be-based-proper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1555613/electoral-reform-hong-kong-must-be-based-proper?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2014 19:45:00 +0000 We are now halfway through the five-month consultation on constitutional development. The three members of the task force have pressed on with gathering the views of different sectors. In the feedback received so far, a number of commonly held views are notable. First, it is the common aspiration of Hong Kong people to see the timely implementation of universal suffrage in the election of the chief executive through "one person, one vote" in 2017. Nobody wants a stalemate in constitutional... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1438699/hong-kong-must-accept-basic-realities-achieve-universal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1438699/hong-kong-must-accept-basic-realities-achieve-universal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Mar 2014 19:18:51 +0000 Yesterday the Steering Committee on Population Policy started a four-month public engagement exercise to collate views on Hong Kong's population policy. It seeks to bring the city up to date on the population challenges we face, deepen public understanding about the issues involved, and seek community consensus on broad policy strategies to manage the challenges. The latest projections show that our population will age faster than previously expected. By 2041, almost one in three of Hong Kong's... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1338950/greying-hong-kong-must-grow-more-nimble-survive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1338950/greying-hong-kong-must-grow-more-nimble-survive?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Oct 2013 18:05:49 +0000 Publication of Hong Kong's first official poverty line at the Commission on Poverty summit on Saturday marked a significant step forward in poverty-alleviation work. As chairwoman of the commission, I am indebted to members for their hard work in the past 10 months. As the chief executive has said, the government has a duty to assist the poor. To ensure we do a proper job, he gave the commission the task of drawing a poverty line which is credible and generally accepted, locally and... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1320690/sizing-poverty-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1320690/sizing-poverty-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Sep 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Wan Chai has become home to people who can afford luxury, and a hot spot for high-end eateries and entertainment. Wan Chai's serviced apartments are increasing almost on a yearly basis, due to their popularity. There are about 30 such residences in the area, but they don't come cheap. The most upmarket serviced apartments include Convention Plaza Apartments, which charges up to HK$34,000 per month for a studio flat, and up to HK$130,000 for a three-bedroom unit. Other well-known serviced... https://www.scmp.com/article/1005186/luxurious-hot-spot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1005186/luxurious-hot-spot?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Sitting in an emotional crowd, surrounded by critics and activists, the newly appointed minister is shouted down as she tries to explain why she could not save Queen's Pier from demolition. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has her own style. Despite criticism of her 'political shows', the city's first secretary for development has persisted with her practice of holding meetings with angry residents over the past year, hearing the complaints of those who have fallen victim to urban planning or urban... https://www.scmp.com/article/653524/frontline-visionary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/653524/frontline-visionary?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:00:00 +0000 On March 8, the first day in her job as permanent secretary for home affairs, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor accepted the challenge of representing Hong Kong at a UN Human Rights Committee hearing in New York only days later. The task could have landed on the desk of her then deputy, Stephen Fisher, who, after four years in the job, was much more conversant with the issues. But Mrs Lam opted to go herself. She said it was not right for the deputy to head the delegation to such an important... https://www.scmp.com/article/573916/race-bill-no-panacea-prejudice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/573916/race-bill-no-panacea-prejudice?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Dec 2006 16:00:00 +0000 Pro-government candidates are poised to grab the three labour seats in Legco. A majority of the 519 labour unions voting for the seats have a pro-government background. Each union can cast three votes. The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions' Wong Kwok-hing and Kwong Chi-kin, who have no previous Legco experience, are widely tipped to win with so-called 'iron votes'. The federation includes 188 unions. Mr Wong is in charge of its New Territories office, while Mr Kwong is its legal... https://www.scmp.com/article/466438/status-quo-rules-state-unions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/466438/status-quo-rules-state-unions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Aug 2004 16:00:00 +0000 Hong Kong Director of Social Welfare Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has long dazzled officials and journalists with her skill in handling figures. 'I am not that good at mathematics, but I am not afraid of numbers,'' she says. The highly organised official often impresses the public, too, as she explains government policies - such as cuts in welfare payments - by referring to dozens of sets of numbers without even a glance at any script or file. Her office in Wan Chai looks like a small library,... https://www.scmp.com/article/417319/welfare-chief-not-one-shirk-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/417319/welfare-chief-not-one-shirk-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Jun 2003 16:00:00 +0000 A FREE ECONOMY and fair competition, these are concepts which have long been close to the hearts of most people in Hong Kong. Indeed, lawmakers, especially those from the Democratic Party, have spent years pushing for legislation to ensure open competition, arguing this would bring down prices and improve the quality of services. But it is a different story when it comes to social welfare, a service industry which costs the Government more than $6.4 billion each year. Legislators, social... https://www.scmp.com/article/341370/welfares-bottom-line?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/341370/welfares-bottom-line?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Mar 2001 16:00:00 +0000 SHE HAS BEEN DUBBED the 'Emily Lau of the Hospital Authority'. In recent years, it has been an open secret that government high-flier Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has had some sharp exchanges with Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, who headed the authority until last September. As deputy secretary for the treasury, she saw it as her job to promote value for money. This meant trying to ensure that taxpayers' money pumped into the authority - of which she was a board member by virtue of her Finance Bureau post -... https://www.scmp.com/article/322000/trouble-shooter-moves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/322000/trouble-shooter-moves?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Jul 2000 16:00:00 +0000