Hong Kong’s next leader Carrie Lam shows she has a mind of her own
Alice Wu says in just a week since her election, the chief executive-elect has shown that she does not need to be told what to do. And that message has been heard not just by the city’s people, but also Beijing
Even if the “race” was, for all intents and purposes, “predetermined”, now that the dust has settled, it would be wise perhaps for us to refrain from making prejudgments. Lam is most probably not going to enjoy a honeymoon period, something that is becoming less of a political entitlement nowadays anyway.
The fine line that separates healthy political scepticism and utterly demoralising fatalism may be hard to pinpoint, but for our sanity and the greater good, and not solely for Lam’s benefit, we must try to – as many say – “look forward”. Some may be tempted to stay bitter and angry, or to disengage, but that would only feed the spirit of resignation. And that would be the ultimate way of relinquishing the people’s power in this city’s future.
There are indeed things to “look forward” to.
On July 1, this city will also have our first female chief executive.
