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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the only candidate for Hong Kong's top post, has been elected to be Hong Kong's next chief executive.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top post, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee solid their votes to pick out the brand new leader. Lee only wanted a easy majority to win.

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

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It's governed beneath the "one country, two methods" framework, and has limited election rights and a largely separate authorized and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went through a serious overhaul final year after Beijing said that solely so-called "patriots" should be allowed to manipulate town.

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

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

"Anybody, who based on the legislation is certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Mentioning that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of assist, in fact, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my route is agreed and shared by a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

In a be aware final week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's choice of Lee as the following Hong Kong leader.

"The selection of Lee, a career police officer who played a number one function within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's prime precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety rather than preserving its function as a dynamic international hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and business middle to taking part in a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly geared up to answer a significant shock."

Consistent with China's Covid-19 policy, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" technique for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an try to blunt its spread. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, however began easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed due to a surge in Covid instances within the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a really clear level that I am very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And also 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 government

At the press convention, Lee was also asked how he will show the worldwide neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for business.

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

"I make it a really clear level that I'm very aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland."

He stated he will probably be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the circumstances that will probably be required for regular travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also known as on citizens to follow the advice and measures of the federal government, and stated the town will search to boost its vaccination fee. According to government statistics, more than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have received their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have received their second dose.

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

"I extend my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press release. "The present-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We are going to render all the assist wanted for the assumption of workplace by the new term of government."

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