Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said she will not run for a second term

She said during a press conference on Monday, that Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam will not take a second term.

Lam said when asked why she would not run for the next CEO election.

She said her decision was “entirely based” on her family’s considerations.

“This is what I told the Central People’s Government, and they expressed their understanding,” she said.

“So I am taking this early opportunity to inform the public through the media that I will not compete in the upcoming CEO election,” she added.

Local media reports, citing unnamed sources, said Hong Kong Secretary John Lee is set to resign to join the CEO race, but Lam refused to comment on any potential candidate in the upcoming elections.

The nomination period began on Sunday. And the Elections are scheduled for May 8. The elections were postponed earlier due to an increase in Covid cases in the Chinese city.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region in China governed by the “one country, two systems” framework. The city has limited electoral rights and a mostly separate legal and economic system.

Chief executives are elected every five years, and Lam’s tenure has been plagued by domestic and global crises.

In June 2019, Hong Kong experienced political unrest such as Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters took to the streets On a proposed bill that would have allowed people in the city to be extradited to mainland China. The protests have been going on for months, sometimes turning violent — and Some have called for Lam’s resignation.

It also oversaw the city’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic, as Beijing adopted a Covid-free stance and Hong Kong tried to remain as an international financial center despite strict travel rules.

This is an evolving story. . Please check back for updates