Hong Kong leader defends election after single opposition figure makes it to 1,500-strong committee

Carrie Lam rejects criticism over the lack of opposition figures in the election committee, saying non-patriots' may undermine Hong Kong

Hong Kong's chief executive, Carrie Lam, has defended the weekend's election of a powerful committee to appoint senior leaders, after just one non-establishment candidate was elected among the 1,500 positions.

Under an overhauled electoral system, dubbed patriots rule Hong Kong", fewer than 5,000 people were eligible to vote on Sunday, choosing from candidates who had already been vetted for political loyalty and cleared of being a national security threat.