Former Chief Secretary Carrie Lam has been elected Hong Kong’s first ever female chief executive, after netting some 770 votes in today’s election. Her rivals, former Finance Secretary John Tsang and former judge Woo Kwok-hing, attained some 365 votes and 16 votes, respectively.
Ballots are still being counted, but Lam has achieved more than enough votes from the 1,200 member-strong Election Committee to win.
Lam, who was widely seen as Beijing’s favourite, is feared by the pro-democracy camp to become “CY 2.0”, in reference to the city’s incumbent and deeply unpopular leader, Leung Chun-ying.
Some spoiled ballots were received and were broadcast on live television, including one which saw a large cross being stamped over all three listed candidates, and another which was emblazoned with 屌 (diu), the Chinese word for “fuck”.
During the reviewing of spoiled ballots, one was stamped with a big cross. Another one had a Chinese profanity on it. #CEElection2017 pic.twitter.com/gxRlVfiHl8
— Varsity CUHK (@varsitycuhk) March 26, 2017
This story is developing.
