Hong Kong’s next Chief Government might be Beijing loyalist John Lee

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the only candidate for Hong Kong's high put up, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent chief government.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

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 pick the brand new leader. Lee only wanted a simple majority to win.

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

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's governed below the "one nation, two programs" framework, and has restricted election rights and a mostly separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by way of a serious overhaul last 12 months after Beijing said that solely so-called "patriots" should be allowed to govern the city.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency will be "challenged by the dearth of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some people."

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

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

Stating that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that variety of help, in fact, it encourages me and offers me the strong confidence that my route 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 govt.

Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

"The selection of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a leading function within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety somewhat than preserving its role as a dynamic global hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and enterprise center to enjoying a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly equipped to answer a serious shock."

According to China's Covid-19 coverage, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" strategy for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an attempt to blunt its spread. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, but began easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed because of a surge in Covid circumstances in the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a really clear point that I am very aware of the must be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

At the press convention, Lee was additionally asked how he'll present the worldwide neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for business.

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

"I make it a very clear point that I'm very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular travel with the mainland."

He said he might be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out out what are the situations that will probably be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also called on citizens to comply with the advice and measures of the government, and mentioned the town will seek to spice up its vaccination price. In accordance with government statistics, greater than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have acquired their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have obtained their second dose.

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

"I prolong my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she stated in a press release. "The present-term authorities and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We are going to render all of the support wanted for the belief of workplace by the new term of government."

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