Sitting in an emotional crowd, surrounded by critics and activists, the newly appointed minister is shouted down as she tries to explain why she could not save Queen's Pier from demolition.
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has her own style. Despite criticism of her 'political shows', the city's first secretary for development has persisted with her practice of holding meetings with angry residents over the past year, hearing the complaints of those who have fallen victim to urban planning or urban renewal projects.
Set up to strike a balance between development and heritage conservation last July, the Development Bureau has tackled issues which have touched nerves right across the spectrum. But in an interview with the South China Morning Post, Mrs Lam makes clear the toughest battles are yet to come.
Previewing her plans to turn Hong Kong into a better and more liveable city, Mrs Lam says the public must be ready for more debates on upcoming projects and policies.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen coined the phrase 'progressive development' in his policy address last October, which means promoting infrastructural development on the one hand while paying heed to heritage conservation and other social dimensions on the other. The result is inexhaustible conflicts for the new minister to solve.
Mrs Lam, who hasn't had a day off this summer, sits down in her office to explain what she plans to do in her new post.
'Many people have the expectation that the Development Bureau was created to press ahead with infrastructure developments,' Mrs Lam said. 'Well, that may be so, but that is certainly not my passion in doing this job.'
