Tough five years ahead for Lam and Hong Kong

AS expected, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor triumphed in Sunday's election, winning 777 votes from the 1,194-member Election Committee to become Hong Kong's next chief executive. She will be the first woman to lead Hong Kong since its emergence as a free port in the 19th century.

Mrs Lam will take office on July 1, the 20th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong under China's formula of "one country, two systems", with the former British colony enjoying a "high degree of autonomy".

Her victory was decisive, with former financial secretary John Tsang winning 365 votes and retired judge Woo Kwok-hing securing 21.