Controversial politician resigns
Hong Kong Prime Minister Lam announces withdrawal
4/4/2022, 7:20 am
During the mass protests in Hong Kong in 2019, demonstrators vehemently demanded their resignation. Prime Minister Lam is now declaring that she will not stand for another term. The media are already speculating about her successor.
Controversial Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam will not seek a second term and will retire on June 30. As the 64-year-old reported to the press in Hong Kong, her decision was made a long time ago. At the beginning of last year, she informed the central government in Beijing of her plans.
Lam thanked China’s communist leadership for their “respect and confidence” in their leadership in China’s special administrative region. The unpopular politician put an end to speculation as to whether she would run again.
Lam’s five-year tenure saw ongoing mass protests and the biggest political crisis in the former British crown colony since it was returned to China in 1997, which ended in a massive curtailment of political freedoms and the repression of the democratic opposition. Her resignation, more democratic participation and free elections were the main demands of the demonstrators in their protests that temporarily paralyzed Hong Kong in 2019.
China’s leadership responded in July 2020 with a strict national security law that has since suppressed criticism and restricted political freedom. Leading opposition figures have been arrested, tried and sentenced, while others have fled into exile.
Hong Kong media speculated that Lam’s departure would clear the way for today’s No. 2, Chief Executive John Lee. The 64-year-old was the head of security during the mass protests. As usual, Hong Kong’s next head of government will be appointed in May by an assembly mostly loyal to Beijing.