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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's high put up, 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 chief. Lee solely needed a easy majority to win.

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

Hong Kong is a particular administrative region of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It's ruled under the "one nation, two programs" framework, and has limited election rights and a mostly separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a major overhaul final year after Beijing stated that only so-called "patriots" should be allowed to govern town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency might be "challenged by the dearth 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 based on the regulation is qualified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that variety of assist, of course, it encourages me and gives me the sturdy confidence that my course is agreed and shared by a whole lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and enterprise heart to taking part in 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 may be poorly outfitted 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. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, however started easing barely in late April.

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

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

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press conference, 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 control Covid-19 and a few of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear level that I am very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland."

He said he will probably be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the conditions that will likely be required for regular travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also known as on residents to comply with the advice and measures of the government, and stated town will seek to boost its vaccination price. 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 obtained their second dose.

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

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

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