Are COVID or politics to blame, as Carrie Lam delays annual duty visit to Beijing?
Hong Kong’s leader will take the highly unusual step of postponing her annual duty visit to Beijing, with local media and experts attributing the change to the COVID-19 epidemic – or possibly to political considerations.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam planned to visit Beijing from Dec. 10 to 14 but was informed at the last minute that her trip was cancelled, according to the pro-establishment newspaper Singtao Daily. Lam might make her visit in January once the epidemic is under control in Hong Kong, the paper reported.
The delay marks the first time since Hong Kong’s 1997 handover that its chief executive has failed to visit Beijing in December.
A source told Singtao Daily that the trip was possibly delayed because top Chinese leaders had busy schedules, or they were worried about the risk of COVID-19 infection, given the higher transmission rate in Hong Kong than in the mainland.
Further, Chinese leaders might also be having difficulty appraising Lam’s performance and want to avoid an awkward meeting, the source added.
The Chief Executive’s Office did not confirm the delay to Apple Daily, saying in a statement that it would announce updates when available.
While some observers speculated that the delay might be related to Beijing’s plans for the next chief executive, Baptist University journalism lecturer and China expert Bruce Lui said there was no evident strong connection. It remains unclear if leaders in Beijing want Lam to govern for another term, but they were probably ready for all possible outcomes, Lui said.
Hong Kong’s pro-establishment camp has tried to distance itself from Lam, but that would not be the determining factor, Lui said. “Once Beijing makes up its mind and decides to have Carrie Lam stay on, then the pro-establishment camp will fall in line immediately.”
Lui said there was still a chance that Lam would serve another term, as she has shown loyalty and devotion to Chinese leaders.
“In the eyes of the central government, Lam is willing to do as she is told, and she is committed to getting the job done at any cost,” he said.
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