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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the only candidate for Hong Kong's high submit, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent 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 high submit, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

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

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

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

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a significant overhaul last year after Beijing said that only so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to control the town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his efficiency will probably be "challenged by the lack 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."

"Anybody, who in response to the regulation is certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Pointing out that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of support, in fact, it encourages me and offers me the robust confidence that my course is agreed and shared by a number of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

In a word last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's selection of Lee as the following Hong Kong leader.

"The number of Lee, a career police officer who played a leading function within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's prime precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety somewhat than preserving its role as a dynamic world hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and business center to enjoying a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "Whereas the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly equipped to respond to a serious shock."

In line 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 attempt to blunt its spread. Town tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, however began easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed as a consequence of a surge in Covid instances in the Asian financial hub.

I make it a really clear level that I'm very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

At the press conference, Lee was additionally requested how he will show the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

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

He said he will likely be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out out what are the circumstances that will be required for regular journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also known as on residents to comply with the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and stated the city will search to boost its vaccination fee. 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 extend my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she stated in a press release. "The present-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We will render all the support wanted for the assumption of workplace by the new time period of presidency."

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