her swearing in as Hong Kong’s chief executive in 2017, Carrie Lam pledged to unite a city that was growing increasingly resentful of Chinese rule. She had emerged quietly from the ranks of Hong Kong’s British-founded civil service to lead her city. She was immersed in the rule of law and civil rights. Many of the people of China’s freest city wanted to believe in her. Yet in 2019, the streets erupted in violence when Lam attempted to drive through legislation allowing extraditions of criminal suspects to mainland China, where they could face trial in Communist Party-controlled courts. That effort ultimately failed, and Lam’s authority appeared to have been destroyed. But in 2020, Lam stood firm with Beijing as it imposed a far more drastic change – a national security law that gave China more power than ever to shape life in Hong Kong. The opposition movement Lam battled has been largely extinguished. Hundreds of pro-democracy activists have fled into exile. More than 10,000 protesters have been arrested. Democratic lawmakers have been dismissed from the legislature and some of the city’s most high-profile activists have been detained or jailed. Today, Lam is widely condemned by foreign governments, and has been sanctioned by the United States for her part in curtailing Hong Kong’s political freedoms. She says she can’t even open a bank account, telling a recent interviewer she has to store piles of cash in her home. Lam and the Hong Kong government didn’t respond to questions about Lam’s leadership. Lam’s defenders have said previously that she has tackled a delicate and challenging situation well, restoring stability to the streets of Hong Kong. In a statement, the government said, “It is the legitimate right and duty of every state to safeguard its national security.” The rule of law, it said, “is a core value and the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s success.” Lam remains defiant. Some in Hong Kong believe she has made a comeback: Having toughed out the controversies over the extradition and security laws, they say, she may have retained enough trust in China that she will get to serve a second term as the city’s chief in 2022. This is the story of how Lam evolved from social activist to determined leader of a city that is losing much of the autonomy it was promised under Chinese rule.