Carrie Lam’s success depends on recognition of common interests

The interests of Beijing and Hong Kong need not be in conflict so long as both sides adhere to the Basic Law and the ‘one country, two systems’ formula

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Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's chief executive-elect, speaks during the Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference in Hong Kong. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 4:41am, 31 Mar 2017Updated: 4:41am, 31 Mar 2017

Having won the chief executive election with a relatively high margin, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is wasting no time gearing up for the challenges ahead. From meeting the heads of Hong Kong and mainland authorities to reaching out to the public, and from picking her new team to defining her governance style, Lam has a lot on her plate. Relations between Beijing and Hong Kong stand out as a key challenge. Constitutionally, the chief executive is accountable to the central government and Hong Kong. That means Lam will be walking a tightrope, with Beijing’s expectations on one side and the aspirations of the local public on the other. The balancing act has become even more difficult in recent years.

Internally, the political landscape has become more polarised. Externally, tensions with the mainland and the central government continue to spiral.

Experience over the past two decades has shown that the chief executive cannot do a good job without the support of both Beijing and Hongkongers. Lam clearly has support from the former. Her relatively high vote count – she won 777 of out of the 1,163 valid ballots cast by the Election Committee – also means she enjoys greater support from the pro-establishment camp than her predecessor, Leung Chun-ying, who secured only 689 votes in 2012. But on gaining popular support, Lam has much work to do.