Give Carrie Lam Another Chance, Says Exco Convenor

The convenor of the Executive Council, Bernard Chan, on Monday appealed to the public to give Chief Executive Carrie Lam “another chance”, even as protesters insist she should step down for the way she's been handling the extradition controversy.

Chan said on an RTHK radio programme that Lam has “lost everything she'd won” this time, but added he hoped people would give her credit for her contribution to Hong Kong in the past two years in areas such as labour, culture and technology.

Lam’s top adviser also said he believed the Chief Executive had learnt "a big lesson" and must be very sorry for causing such divisions in society, and that she would continue to apologise to the people to show her sincerity.

Chan said the government had failed completely in terms of communicating with the public and helping them understand the extradition issue, adding Exco also did not do a good job in what he described as its “gatekeeping” role.

On Sunday evening, the government issued a statement saying Lam was sorry for “causing disappointment and grief among the people,” as almost two million people took to the streets demanding that she withdraw the contentious extradition bill and resign.

Executive Council member Lam Ching-choi, meanwhile, acknowledged the government had made numerous mistakes while handling the issue, which led to two record-breaking rallies in as many weeks. But he too believes Lam and her government deserve a second chance.

"A lot of Hong Kong people don't think the government is taking very seriously the present issues. I think the government, especially the Chief Executive, felt really, really sorry about that," Lam said.

Former Legco president, Tsang Yok-sing, also said he thinks Lam should stay on as Chief Executive.

He said it's wishful thinking someone who is more capable and trusted by the people would be found, should she step down.

The pro-establishment heavyweight also said it’s not for Lam to decide whether she should bow out, because only the central government can appoint or remove a Chief Executive.

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