Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-03-26

Taiwan’s government has congratulated Hong Kong’s newly chosen chief executive,

Hong Kong’s newly chosen chief executive, Carrie Lam (third from left) appears with her husband (second left) and son (fourth from left) after her selection on Sunday. (CNA photo)

Carrie Lam. The Special Administrative Region’s 1,194-member election committee chose the Beijing-favored candidate with 777 votes on Sunday. She will take office on July 1, succeeding Leung Chun-ying, and becoming the first woman to hold the position.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), the top body charting relations with China, released a statement on Sunday congratulating Lam. It called for continued close cooperation with the Special Administrative Region, saying “it is hoped that Taiwan and Hong Kong will maintain an outlook based on mutual benefits and improve their bilateral ties in a pragmatic way.”

Lam is currently the chief secretary for the Administration of Hong Kong. She beat out a former finance chief and a retired judge to win the position.    [FULL  STORY]