Mrs Carrie Lam is Hong Kong's new Chief Executive

Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was elected by a broadly representative Election Committee according to the Basic Law as the fifth term of Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on March 26. President Xi Jinping of China swore in Mrs Lam as the Chief Executive, and also the new Principal Officials, on July 1.

Being the new head of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, she emphasised the priorities in her coming five-year-term: “I pledge that I will do my utmost to attain unity in society and connect with people from all walks of life to develop our economy, improve people's livelihood, promote a more democratic society and safeguard Hong Kong's core values through ‘caring’, ‘listening’ and ‘acting’. By this, we will together build a better Hong Kong.”

Mrs Lam’s team of Principal Officials, advising the Chief Executive in policy-making and the administration of the Government, comprises 16 members. Three of them are Secretaries of Departments, namely:

• Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung
• Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan Mo-po
• Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung

And the following Directors of Bureaux:

• Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau Tang-wah
• Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing
• Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah
• Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W. Yang
• Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Henry Lau Jr
• Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong
• Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law Chi-kong
• Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee Ka-chiu
• Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan
• Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee
• Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong Wai-lun
• Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung Yun-hung
• Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip Tak-kuen

In her inauguration speech on July 1, Mrs Lam pointed out Hong Kong’s achievements over the past two decades since its return to China. The city has overcome financial crises and maintained economic growth. “We have benefitted considerably from China’s reform and opening-up to become the world’s largest offshore renminbi centre. Our financial sector has received new impetus with the launch of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect, as well as the upcoming Bond Connect.” In her speech, she highlighted past achievements and elaborated on where Hong Kong stands now and in which direction the city is heading. Mrs Lam pointed out that “In global rankings for the rule of law, Hong Kong is a consistent leader; our judicial independence ranks 8th – and top in Asia – among the 138 economies assessed. Hong Kong is also one of the safest cities in the world – our overall crime rate last year was the lowest since 1972. Five of our universities rank among the world’s top 100.” Moreover, in its World Competitiveness Yearbook 2017 released in May, the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has named Hong Kong as the world’s most competitive economy for the second consecutive year. This is echoed in the Heritage Foundation’s naming of Hong Kong as the world’s freest economy for the past 23 years. With concerted efforts, Hong Kong people have made achievements and progresses in the past 20 years under “One Country, Two Systems”. Looking ahead, we will continue to seize the opportunities and display our unique charm as Asia’s world city.