The Pulse：The Chief Executive race and discussion with Regina Ip, Election Committee Subsector elect

The contenders for the Chief Executive race are already in, or approaching, the starting blocks. On Saturday, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam made a U-turn and said she would “reconsider” running for the top job in light of what she’s calling the - “drastic change”. On Monday evening, Financial Secretary John Tsang announced his resignation and is rearing to go. And on Wednesday, retired judge Woo Kwok-hing presented his 47-page election platform. Next up, on Thursday, Regina Ip confirmed her candidacy. A lesser-known candidate, ex-DAB member Wu Sai-chuen announced his plans to run late last month. And with me in the studio is one of those candidates, Regina Ip.
The pro-democracy camp scored a considerable success in last Sunday’s Election Committee Sub-sectors election. The net result is that pro-democrats occupy 326 of the committee’s seats, more than a quarter of the total. The results reflect a growing discontent and a groundswell for change, particularly among younger generation professionals. Chairwoman of the DAB, Starry Lee said it is worrying that the Chief Executive election has become politicised. We’ll leave you to think about that one.
The Syrian city of Aleppo is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For four years it’s also been a key battleground for rebel fighters and the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. There’s been plenty of horror and destruction already, but this week even a jaded world was shocked yet again as government forces advanced into Aleppo, more than 80 civilians, mostly women and children, were reported to have been executed, and 100 children were reported to be trapped in one building. The United Nations called the raids on Aleppo “likely a war crime” and a “complete meltdown of humanity”. A highly fraught evacuation is now under way. We’ll leave you with the images of Aleppo, and we’ll see you next week. Goodbye.