The nearly 20-year-old Hong Kong Special Administrative Region greets a female Chief Executive: candidate Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was elected as the SAR's fifth-term Chief Executive by a majority 777 votes yesterday.Her five-year term will end in 2020.

　　The election, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, went on smoothly.Ballot counting began immediately after the conclusion of the first round of voting at 11 am.By 12.30 pm, the number of votes for Carrie Lam already exceeded 601,the threshold for being elected.At 1.30 pm, an Electoral Affairs Commission official announced the results of ballot counting: 777 votes for Carrie Lam, 365 for John Tsang Chun-wah, and 21 for Woo Kwok-hing.As a result, Carrie Lam was elected.

　　At that moment, all Election Committee members stood up to clap their hands and cheer.Carrie Lam bowed her thanks twice and shook hands with the two defeated candidates.Her husband Lam Siu-por and son were the first to go up onto the platform to congratulate her with bouquets and hugs.Many Election Committee members also came up to shake hands with her and congratulate her.The atmosphere was lively and warm.

　　Now that Carrie Lam is elected, the SAR Government will follow the law to report her election to the Central Government and ask for her appointment.After the election, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said "This Chief Executive election, which strictly observed the Basic Law, relevant decisions by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, and the election laws of Hong Kong, embodied the principle of openness, fair play and justice, and was held smoothly and orderly.Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor meets the Central Government's standards for the Chief Executive of loving the country and Hong Kong, being trusted by the Central Government, being capable of governing and enjoying the support of the people of Hong Kong.The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council has received the election report submitted by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Central Government will perform the appointment procedures in accordance with the law."

　　By now, it may be said that the whole process of the election of the SAR's fifth-term Chief Executive has come to an end with the most satisfactory result that best uphold the principle of "one country two systems" and the overall interests of Hong Kong society, and smoke of the election battle has dissipated.Led by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, Hong Kong SAR will open a new chapter in history to usher in a new-five-year period for jointly building a more harmonious and more beautiful Hong Kong.

　　In this just-concluded Chief Executive Election, every contender, the victor, all Hong Kong people and all political parties and forces, all have learnt a profound and valuable lesson, getting unprecedented inspirations and gains.Lessons should be drawn and successful experiences must be further brought into play in future works.

　　That this Chief Executive Election could be held smoothly in accordance with the law to eventually elect a Chief Executive that truly meet the fundamental interests of Hong Kong people, such a success must first of all be attributed to the four requirements set by the Central Government that the Chief Executive must love the country and Hong Kong, be trusted by the Central Government, be capable of governing, and enjoy the support of the people of Hong Kong. (To be Continued)

27 March 2017