Chinese authorities are reportedly considering plans to replace current Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam with the city’s former central bank chief named as a potential successor.
Former Hong Kong Monetary Authority chief Norman Chan is among the two candidates named to succeed Lam as «interim» chief executive, according to a «Financial Times» (behind paywall) report citing anonymous sources that were briefed about the plan.
Chinese officials are currently waiting for the matter to stabilize in Hong Kong before making the financial decision for fear of the perception that they «seen to be giving in to violence», the report said, adding that the appointment would be announced in March, pending approval from President Xi Jinping, and the successor would complete the remainder of Lam’s term which ends in 2022.
Tang, Again
In addition to Chan, the Hong Kong government’s former financial secretary and chief secretary for administration Henry Tang was named as the other top candidate for the interim role.
Tang had joined the chief executive race in 2012 and though he was widely seen as Beijing preferred choice, a series of scandals – most notably a controversy regarding an illegal basement used as a wine cellar – and a dramatic decrease in public support led to the victory of then competitor Leung Chun-ying.
