Hong Kong’s subsequent Chief Govt will be Beijing loyalist John Lee

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the one candidate for Hong Kong's prime put up, has been elected to be Hong Kong's next chief executive.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

John Lee, a Beijing loyalist, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent chief government.

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's top submit, won 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to select the new leader. Lee only needed a simple majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was formerly Hong Kong's chief secretary, will start his five-year term on July 1, replacing outgoing Chief Government Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative area of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It's governed beneath the "one country, two programs" framework, and has restricted election rights and a mostly separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a major overhaul final year after Beijing mentioned that only so-called "patriots" must be allowed to manipulate town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was asked if his efficiency can be "challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some individuals."

His reply was that his election was "run in accordance with the legal guidelines of Hong Kong."

"Anyone, who in keeping with the law is qualified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Stating that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of help, of course, it encourages me and offers me the robust confidence that my path is agreed and shared by a variety of election committee members."

John Lee, a Beijing loyalist, has been picked to be town's next chief government.

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

In a notice final week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's selection of Lee as the subsequent Hong Kong leader.

"The choice of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a number one function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, signifies that Beijing's prime precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety moderately than preserving its function as a dynamic international hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and business center to enjoying a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "Whereas the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly geared up to respond to a serious shock."

In step with China's Covid-19 coverage, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" technique for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an try and blunt its unfold. The city tightened restrictions further in February as new instances raged, but began easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed resulting from a surge in Covid instances in the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a very clear level that I'm very aware of the should be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press conference, Lee was additionally requested how he will show the international neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Yes, we've got challenges now due to the necessity to management Covid-19 and some of the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear level that I'm very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland."

He mentioned he shall be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out out what are the situations that will probably be required for regular travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally known as on citizens to comply with the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and stated the city will seek to boost its vaccination rate. In keeping with authorities statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have acquired their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have acquired their second dose.

Hong Kong's outgoing chief executive Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I lengthen my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she said in a press release. "The present-term government and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We are going to render all of the help wanted for the idea of workplace by the brand new time period of government."

Correction: This story has been updated to mirror that John Lee gained 1,416 votes in Hong Kong's chief govt election. An earlier model of the story misrepresented that determine.