Hong Kong leadership race contender Carrie Lam meets Tin Shui Wai community after ‘too tired’ comment
City’s former No 2 discusses public markets and bazaar policy with concern groups
The front runner in Hong Kong’s leadership race met with grass-roots concern groups in the city’s far northwest on Thursday after enduring heavy criticism last week when a campaign staffer said she was “too tired” to make the trip.
Lam apologised again for the miscommunication over the engagement in Tin Shui Wai, New Territories, and pledged to keep visiting communities and reach out to the grass roots if elected.
Prior to yesterday’s visit, concern groups had expressed disappointment over Lam’s no-show. They urged her to improve the livelihood of residents in the area.
On Thursday, Lam’s campaign office released a video clip showing her visiting Sham Shui Po with Professor Nelson Chow Wing-sang, under a theme of “connecting Hong Kong”.
The video raised many eyebrows as the two had sparred over the public consultation on retirement protection. Chow described his role in the video as passive and claimed he was not backing Lam. Lam’s office stated Chow had agreed to the video arrangements.
Other controversies have arisen this week for the former chief secretary.
On Thursday, just days before the 1,194 members of the Election Committee choose the city’s next leader, Lam faced a second judicial review over her candidacy.
Retired civil servant Kwok Cheuk-kin filed a case claiming that Lam – a British national who resided in the United Kingdom from 2004 to 2006 – had breached section 13 of the Chief Executive Election Ordinance. He argued she did not reside continuously in Hong Kong for 20 years as the eligibility requirements stipulate.
The first judicial review was filed on Tuesday by retired photojournalist Cheung Tak-wing. He argued Lam had right of abode in the European Union through her husband’s British nationality.
Additional reporting by Jasmine Siu
