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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the only 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, received 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee forged their votes to select the brand new leader. Lee solely wanted a simple majority to win.

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

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is governed beneath the "one nation, two programs" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a significant overhaul final year after Beijing stated that solely so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to manipulate the city.

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

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

"Anyone, who in response to the law is qualified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of assist, of course, it encourages me and offers me the robust confidence that my course is agreed and shared by lots of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

In a notice last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's alternative of Lee as the subsequent Hong Kong chief.

"The number of Lee, a profession 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 priority for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety reasonably than preserving its function as a dynamic global hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and enterprise middle to enjoying a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "While the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly geared up to reply to a significant shock."

According to 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 unfold. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, but began easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed as a result of a surge in Covid cases within the Asian financial hub.

I make it a very clear level that I am very acutely aware of the must be accessible to the world. And likewise it is an important factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

On the press convention, Lee was also requested how he'll show the international group that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Sure, we have now challenges now due to the necessity to control Covid-19 and among the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear point that I'm very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And also it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal journey with the mainland."

He mentioned he will likely be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the situations that shall be required for regular journey to be resumed with the mainland."

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

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

"I lengthen my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she mentioned in a press launch. "The present-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We will render all of the help wanted for the belief of workplace by the brand new term of government."

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