communicate the walkout to them effectively, and thereby contributed to the quorum required for the ballot to take place. Lam apologised and also 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. 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." 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. 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. 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. Awards In 1996, Lam was appointed a Justice of Peace and awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire. In 2004 he received the Silver Bauhinia Star and 2011 the Gold Bauhinia Star. Personal life Lam owns 3 residential properties, 7 commercial properties, and 11 parking spots in Hong Kong. External links Official site of Jeffrey Lam Legco Members' biographies References 1951 births Living people Hong Kong businesspeople Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star Recipients of the Silver Bauhinia Star Members of the Order of the British Empire Tufts University School of Engineering alumni Liberal Party (Hong Kong) politicians Economic Synergy politicians Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong politicians Members of the Executive Council of Hong Kong Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference HK LegCo Members 2004–2008 HK LegCo Members 2008–2012 HK LegCo Members 2012–2016 HK LegCo Members 2016–2021 HK LegCo Members 2022–2025 HNA Group people