SECTIONS

1957 Born in Hong Kong
1980 Graduates from Hong Kong University, Bachelor of Social Sciences
1980 Joins civil service and studies at Cambridge University
2010 Gold Bauhinia Star
2007-2012 Secretary for Development
2012 Chief Secretary
2016 Great Bauhinia Medal
2017 Elected Chief Executive

Where is Carrie Lam?

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s popularity slumped to a record low of 19.6 per cent in December 2019, the lowest ranking for a CE since Tung Chee-hwa resigned. During the coronavirus crisis, Lam's leadership has seen her popularity rise slightly and she still has two years of her term left to turn things around.

Han Huang AND Marcelo Duhalde

APRIL 6, 2020

Ratings of Hong Kong's leaders

Ratings of Hong Kong's leaders


Coronavirus crisis

Carrie Lam has made many public appearances since the coronavirus struck Hong Kong, including social events and press conferences to announce government measures to contain the virus. Here, we analyse those appearances since January 1, the day after Chinese authorities alerted the World Health Organisation to a series of pneumonia-like cases in Wuhan.

Hover over dates for more details

January 3, 2020

Wuhan’s health commission goes public on December 31, announcing 27 cases of coronavirus and claims there is “no obvious human-to-human transmission”. Two days later, Carrie Lam makes her first public appearance of the year to inspect the prevention measures in West Kowloon Station

January 7

Lam announces all travellers entering Hong Kong from Wuhan had undergone temperature screenings since the previous evening

January 22

Hong Kong reports its first two cases of coronavirus infections. The next day, Wuhan announces a citywide lockdown as confirmed cases at the outbreak epicentre jump to 830. As chief executive, Lam leads a top-level delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland

January 25

Back in Hong Kong, Lam declares the highest level of emergency and suspends all school classes, as well as flights and high-speed trains from Wuhan during a 90-minute press conference

February 3

More than 2,400 public hospital workers strike demanding full closure of the border with mainland China. Lam later announces further shutdowns of crossing points with the mainland, but says the move is unrelated to the strike. By the end of the day infected cases across the border reach over 20,000

February 4

Hong Kong records its first coronavirus death. The city is hit with shortages of masks and other hygiene products as the number of infections grows. Lam bars civil servants from wearing surgical masks in order to conserve supplies for medical staff fighting the outbreak

February 5

Lam apologises for her remarks the previous day, clarifying that she was only talking about principal officials when she discouraged civil servants from wearing masks if they were not sick. She also announces Hong Kong will quarantine all travellers from mainland China for 14 days

February 18

Lam announces the 352 Hong Kong residents on board the Princess Diamond will be evacuated by a charter plane. Passengers are told not to return on their own, or risk being put on a watch list and given a quarantine order

March 10

Carrie Lam announces all arrivals from Italy, Germany, Japan, Spain and parts of France will be placed on a mandatory quarantine in government facilities for 14 days as Hong Kong’s confirmed cases reach 120

March 17

Lam expands the red travel alert to cover all countries and jurisdictions except for neighbouring Macau, Taiwan and mainland China. All arrivals from any foreign country will undergo 'two weeks' quarantine

Handling Hong Kong protests

The ongoing, leaderless anti-government protests are the most divisive political and social crisis to hit Hong Kong since the city was returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997. Here we take a look at the public appearances made by Carrie Lam while the protests grew in intensity.

March 26, 2020
Europe’s coronavirus lockdown nightmare

Tracking Carrie Lam’s footsteps

As chief executive, Many Hongkongers believe the buck stops with Chief Executive Carrie Lam and say her government’s response to the protests has been inadequate. Although the extradition bill was formally withdrawn by Legco on October 23, the government has not discussed the protesters’ other demands.

A significant number of people complain that Lam should be seen meeting the public, but the city’s leader sticks to her usual agenda, attending overseas ceremonies and travelling north of the border to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

9 Jun 2019
31 Dec 2019

Chief executive calendar

Early last year discussions began to close a loophole in Hong Kong’s extradition laws to include Taiwan and mainland China. When Lam’s government introduced the first amendment bill in mid-2019 the opposition expressed fears of opening the city to mainland Chinese law. This led to the June 9 demonstration that organisers claim a million people attended. It wasn’t long before protesters began calling for Lam to resign.

Perhaps not surprisingly Lam attended fewer public events than usual until September when she visited the mainland on several occasions to take part in various 70th anniversary celebrations. Given the size and magnitude of the civil strife caused by the protests it is noticeable how few public events she attended directly relating to the situation.

Lam’s wardrobe

Carrie Lam's public appearances decreased as the protests intensified and her choice of clothes spoke more to the city’s mood than she did.

Hover/tap her dress to see the details

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