In this Hong Kong name, the surname is Lam. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is Jeffrey Lam and the Chinese-style name is Lam Kin-fung.
As a long-term member of the Liberal Party, he was nominated to be party chairman following the resignation of James Tien after the latter's defeat in the 2008 Legislative Council election in September 2008.
In February 2022, Lam told SCMP that he would be attending the 2022 Two Sessions, as a Hong Kong delegate.[2]
In November 2022, Lam went to Thailand and summarized his visit as clarifying that there is no more quarantine when arriving in Hong Kong, and that the city's brain drain is not as bad as someone had earlier thought.[3]
Controversies and views
In 2014, Lam had his licence suspended for six months for dangerous driving after he drove in the wrong lane at the junction of Wang Chiu Road and Cheung Yip Street in Kowloon Bay.[4]
On 18 June 2015, Lam famously orchestrated the departure of the majority of the pro-Beijing Legislative Councillors from the legislative chamber just moments before votes were to be cast on the long-awaited Beijing-ordered Chief Executive election reform legislation which they intended to support. The legislation was voted down, 28 to 8. The few voting for were present only because Lam had failed to communicate the walkout to them effectively, and thereby contributed to the quorum required for the ballot to take place.[5] Lam apologised and fought back tears. In a WhatsApp message circulated among pro-Beijing allies, Lam described Thursday as "the saddest day" of his 11 years in Legco. "I have learnt a very painful lesson", he said.[6]
In February 2021, after Xia Baolong said that only "patriots" could govern Hong Kong and that electoral changes needed to be made, Lam supported the proposal and said that "I think whatever proposed is for the betterment of Hong Kong's society, the Hong Kong government, for the whole system... So we look forward to that. We hope that would come as soon as possible."[7]
In March 2021, Lam supported changes to rules that would reduce the power of Legislative Council members, claiming that the opposition had abused the rules and delayed many bills from passing.[8]
In August 2022, Lam repeated Regina Ip's opinion and said that public housing should not be built on the Fanling site of the Hong Kong Golf Club, though the development proposal was well-received by the public.[9] A year later in August 2023, his declaration of interests showed that he was a member of the Hong Kong Golf Club.[10]
In October 2022, after several US lawmakers warned US financial executives to not attend the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit, Lam said that the lawmakers were trying to "sabotage" the Summit.[11]
Lam owns 3 residential properties, 7 commercial properties, and 11 parking spots in Hong Kong.[14] In addition, Lam owns a factory building and 3 pieces of land in mainland China.[10]
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