Hong Kong's future unclear as leadership election, lacking front-runner,
is delayed by COVID
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[February 18, 2022]
By James Pomfret
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong on Friday
postponed an election for a new leader until May to battle a raging
COVID outbreak, but unlike previous years, there's still no front-runner
for the job, adding to uncertainty about the city's future as Beijing
imposes its rule.
The former British colony returned to China in 1997, since when there
have been four chief executives, all of whom struggled to balance the
democratic aspirations of some residents with the vision of China's
Communist Party leaders.
All of the city's leaders have been backed by Beijing and chosen by a
small committee stacked with Beijing loyalists.
But unlike previous times, where likely candidates have signalled their
intention to run months in advance, there's no clear favourite.
Diplomats, government sources and political observers say that's partly
because there's no obvious indication of China's favourite in the "chief
executive election" that had been due on March 27 but has now been
pushed back till May 8 to allow time for the government to battle a
deteriorating COVID outbreak.
"Suddenly there's a lot of shadow play," one senior Western diplomat
said. "The protracted sense of uncertainty surrounding this election
cannot be a good thing."
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Whoever gets the job will be expected to maintain China's hardline
stance on dissent, some observers say, and further squeeze remnant
liberal pockets of Hong Kong society with more security legislation
expected to be drafted this year.
Parallel to that, Hong Kong's next leader will have to attempt to
re-launch the city internationally after widespread Western criticism
over the security squeeze that followed months of at times violent
pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Friday again skirted questions on whether
she would seek another term and her office gave no immediate response to
a Reuters request for comment.
Among the contenders being discussed in political circles are Lam,
financial secretary Paul Chan, former leader Leung Chun-ying, the
China-born former head of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Charles Li, and
pro-Beijing lawmaker Martin Liao.
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![](../images/021822PIX/news_t73.jpg)
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks at a news conference
announcing the postponement of the chief executive election as the
city battles a surge in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
infections, in Hong Kong, China February 18, 2022. REUTERS/Aleksander
Solum
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Feb/18/images/ads/current/heartland_lda_NOV2021.png) NEW PAGE?
One source with ties to senior Chinese officials said China had not
yet made up its mind on whether to allow Lam to stay on for a second
term, adding she was under a shadow for her handling of events that
led up to the 2019 protests.
"I know Beijing feels they made a mistake" in choosing Lam when she
got the job in 2017, said the person, who has met leading Chinese
officials in charge of Hong Kong affairs.
"She's damaged goods in their eyes, but finding a suitable
alternative has been difficult."
Lam has also been sanctioned by the United States for her role in
the crackdown on the protests, which could be a liability, analysts
say.
"The Chinese government's rational choice would be to change horse
and to appoint someone who's not been targeted by the sanctions, to
start on a new page," said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a Hong Kong-based
professor and China politics expert.
The surge of COVID infections after many months of containing the
virus with tough restrictions has also re-enforced public
perceptions of a government unable to handle crises.
This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Hong Kong to make
COVID containment its "overriding mission" in what some, including
Cabestan, saw as a clear rebuke of Lam.
Lam on Friday said she'd decided to postpone the election using
powers under emergency regulations, and that she'd obtained the
"consent" of Beijing.
While Lam hoped a new leader would still have time to take office on
July 1 after her current term ends, she said she couldn't rule out
the possibility of further delays to the poll.
"The epidemic situation is changing so rapidly so no one can give
any guarantee what will happen the next day," she said.
(Additional reporting by Greg Torode; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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