Chief Executive hopeful Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is promising to form a broadly representative administration if she is elected.

And she dismissed the negative allegation spread by opposition-leaning media outlets that she would take a hard-line governing style.

In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Lam said she did not worry about negative descriptions that she is a replica of incumbent Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying or preordained by Beijing - as claimed by the opposition camp.

"This is election and strange things happen," she explained. "I hope that after the election, people will realize we need to work together. I have a track record of engaging Legislative Council members and politicians from the wide political spectrum to get things done for the people of Hong Kong."

The former chief secretary for administration (CS) also stressed that filibusters in the legislature were damaging. If elected, she would create a platform for dialogue with members of the Legislative Council. She hopes this will solve some of the current problems.

She revealed that from her meetings with Election Committee sub-sectors dominated by the "pan-democratic" camp, not all of them focused solely on political issues. Some expressed concern over issues related to their respective sectors.

For instance, the medical services sector, which includes clinical psychologists, nurses, dietitians and speech therapists, has complained that there are no statutory registration systems for healthcare professionals.

The CE hopeful said she would establish a statutory registration system for allied healthcare professionals if elected.

Lam also promised to recommend capable people for appointment by the central government as principal officials and Executive Council members on merit - regardless of their political backgrounds. But these people must abide by the rules of confidentiality and collective responsibility.

Despite a public image of being tough, Lam said she had a softer side, although this is often reserved for her family.

"I spent every day in my official position trying to do things for the people of Hong Kong," she explained. "I perhaps sacrificed a bit in my private life because of my public duties."

Lam revealed she regretted not spending more time with her mother before she died. "I spent a good period of time with her only when she was sick or hospitalized. Then I had an obligation to visit her every day after work," Lam recalled.

She advised other people to spend more time with their parents.

Lam said quality time with her two children also suffered as she had to take the responsibilities of both being a mother and being a civil servant.

When the children were little, she needed to rush back home from office to cook for them, bathe them, and read books to them, Lam recalled.

"I would love to spend more time with my children," she added.

joseph@chinadailyhk.com

Chief Executive candidate Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor poses for a photo with female bus drivers on Wednesday to mark the International Women's Day. Provided to China Daily

(HK Edition 03/11/2017 page6)