Carrie Lam

Carrie Lam, born on May 13, 1957, is a retired politician who made history as the first female Chief Executive of Hong Kong, serving from 2017 to 2022. A graduate of the University of Hong Kong, she began her career in the British Hong Kong civil service in 1980, where she held various significant positions, including Director of Social Welfare and Director General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London.

Lam's political journey took a pivotal turn in 2007 when she was appointed Secretary for Development, earning the moniker 'tough fighter' for her controversial role in the demolition of Queen's Pier in 2008. In 2012, she became Chief Secretary for Administration under the Leung Chun-ying administration, where she led discussions on electoral reform amidst widespread protests.

In the 2017 Chief Executive selection process, Lam emerged as the Beijing-favoured candidate, securing seven hundred seventy-seven votes from the Election Committee. However, her administration faced numerous controversies, including criticism for raising the qualification age for social security and the proposed cross-harbour tunnel toll plan.

The introduction of a controversial extradition bill in mid-2019 sparked massive protests, leading to her administration's unpopularity. Despite suspending and eventually withdrawing the bill, Lam resisted calls for an independent inquiry into police conduct and universal suffrage. The situation escalated with the imposition of the national security law in July 2020, which drew criticism for curtailing freedoms in Hong Kong.

In April 2022, Lam announced her decision not to seek a second term, citing a desire to spend more time with her family. She was succeeded by John Lee on July 1, 2022, marking the end of her tumultuous tenure as Chief Executive.