BEIJING - China's State Council, the country's Cabinet, on Friday (March 31) appointed Carrie Lam as the new chief executive of Hong Kong, reported China Global Television Network.

According to the decision made at a meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang, Lam will take office on July 1.

Hong Kong held the election for the chief executive on Mar 26.

Lam won 777 votes of the 1,194 votes cast by members of the election committee.

After the election, she vowed to "heal the divide and ease the frustration," as well as protect Hong Kong's core values, such as freedom of the press and of speech, respect for human rights and the independence of its judiciary.

Lam, who will be the first woman to run Hong Kong, rose through the ranks as a career civil servant before taking public office. She has served as deputy to Hong Kong's outgoing leader Leung Chun Ying.

The 59-year-old cast herself as a force for change on the campaign trail, focusing on issues such as poverty and housing which have also fuelled unrest. She said on Tuesday she was "very determined" to tackle the high cost of housing in the densely populated city.