I'm not ashamed of my report card, says Lam

Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor says she is not ashamed of her "report card" on her five years as the SAR's chief executive because she has overcome the most challenging era for Hong Kong since the handover.

Lam's term has taken in the anti-fugitive bill movement of 2019, Beijing's imposition of a national security law in June 2020, a revamped electoral system in December last year, and the Covid pandemic starting in January 2020 that has left more than 9,000 people dead.

In her swansong question-and-answer session in the Legislative Council yesterday before her term ends on June 30, Lam said in a teary and shaking voice that although the past five years has been full of turbulence she managed to overcome the difficulties with determination.

She acknowledged, however, that society has divided opinions on her performance and that legislators believed her administration had room for improvement.

But her term coincided with the "most difficult" period in Hong Kong's post-handover history.

"I think I have handed in a report card that I am not ashamed of and have put a full stop to my 42 years in public service," she said.

Lam also thanked Beijing for stepping in to enact the national security law and introduce a "patriots-only" electoral system.

At the height of the 2019 social unrest - triggered by her own move to enact a fugitive bill - a leaked recording featured Lam saying in a closed-door meeting with business representatives that she had caused "unforgivable" havoc and would quit if given a choice.

But she insisted yesterday that she never regretted becoming chief executive or considered stepping down, citing "tremendous support and guidance" from the central government. Lam also thanked her family for supporting her through all the hardships of her "historic mission."

She added: "I think another factor that made me grasp the nettle is my personality, as someone described me as someone that will get excited when I encounter something challenging, with a drive to overcome it.

"Whenever I encounter difficulties I will read a 'book of heaven,' which is the speech made by President Xi Jinping on July 1, 2017 - the day [I] was sworn in."

Hong Kong's governance had also improved after Beijing intervened to put patriots in power, she said.

Before that change, Lam said, the SAR administration "had been frustrated by the confrontational attitude and frequent filibusters in the legislature."

In response to doubts that she only gave up the idea of seeking re-election in recent months, Lam said people could have noticed her intention to leave by looking at her work, speeches and behavior over the past year.

She also provided a comprehensive progress review in her policy address last October.

But Lam said she is willing to continue to contribute to society by sharing her experience at the Civil Service College, which was opened last December to train and develop civil servants.

She was also honored to have been involved in the raising of the Hong Kong Palace Museum at the West Kowloon Cultural District.

Related to that, she said, "I have made a promise to the central government to use Hong Kong's international connections as an advantage to tell China's story to the world.

"I am more than willing to take up any job related to this category after I have stepped down."

Her speech was applauded warmly by the "patriots-only" legislature.

Kenneth Lau Ip-leung of the Business and Professionals Alliance, who represents the Heung Yee Kuk, praised Lam for her contributions to Hong Kong.

"She has implemented the new electoral system, fully implemented the 'patriots ruling Hong Kong' principle and also showed the world the implementation and the unparalleled achievement of One Country, Two Systems in Hong Kong," Lau said.

Independent legislator Paul Tse Wai-chun from the Election Committee sector, who indicated he was not merely exchanging pleasantries, thanked Lam for serving the public for 42 years and bending over backward in the execution of her duties.