Protests as Beijing's pick chosen as HKong leader

published: 2017-03-31 07:15:59 (26 Mar 2017) Hong Kong pro-democracy groups held a protest rally outside the election venue where a committee dominated by pro-Beijing elites cast ballots on Sunday to choose Hong Kong’s next leader in the first such vote since 2014’s huge pro-democracy protests. Pro-Beijing groups also held competing rallies and both sides were kept apart by police hundreds of police officers. The pro-democracy crowd chanted “I want genuine democracy,” the usual slogan for opponents of the current system. The committee chose Carrie Lam, the government’s former No. 2 official and Beijing’s favored candidate, as Hong Kong’s next leader. She received 777 votes and will become the first female leader for the city and its fourth since British colonial control ended. China’s communist leadership had lobbied for her so Lam’s victory came as no surprise. After the votes were counted, Lam bowed to the crowd and shook hands with second-place finisher, former finance secretary John Tsang, who received 365 votes. Lam is an efficient and pragmatic administrator, but unpopular with Hong Kongers because she’s seen as a proxy for Beijing and out of touch with ordinary people. Tsang is highly popular because of his easygoing persona and deft use of social media to connect with residents, but who doesn’t have Beijing’s support.

Lam will take over from current leader Leung Chun-ying who is not seeking a second term, citing family reasons.