Hong Kong — Hong Kong’s new leader Carrie Lam pledged on Sunday to mend political rifts after winning a vote dismissed as a sham by democracy activists who fear the loss of the city’s cherished freedoms. The former career civil servant was chosen as next CE of the semi-autonomous city by a mainly pro-China committee. She was widely seen as Beijing’s favourite candidate. Her main rival, ex-finance chief John Tsang who was perceived as a more moderate pro-establishment figure, had a clear lead in opinion polls but trailed in the result. It was the first leadership vote since mass "Umbrella Movement" rallies in 2014 calling for fully free elections failed to secure reforms. Pro-democracy activists said none of the candidates truly represented Hong Kong and rejected the vote outright. Hong Kong was handed back to China by colonial ruler Britain in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula designed to protect its freedoms and way of life. But 20 years on, there are serious concerns...
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