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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

Lee, the only 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 chief. Lee only 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 Govt Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative region 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 systems" framework, and has restricted election rights and a largely separate authorized and economic system.

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

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his performance shall 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."

"Anybody, who in accordance with the law is qualified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Pointing out that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of support, in fact, it encourages me and gives me the strong confidence that my route 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 government.

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global financial and business heart to enjoying a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the dangers to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly outfitted to respond to a serious shock."

In line with China's Covid-19 coverage, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" technique for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an try and blunt its unfold. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new instances raged, however began easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed on account of a surge in Covid cases in the Asian financial hub.

I make it a really clear point that I am very aware of the should be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press convention, Lee was also requested how he will present the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Yes, we've got challenges now due to the necessity to management Covid-19 and a number of 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 in addition it is an important factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal journey with the mainland."

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

Lee additionally known as on citizens to comply with the advice and measures of the federal government, and said the town will seek to boost its vaccination fee. In accordance with authorities 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 acquired their second dose.

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

"I lengthen my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she said in a press release. "The present-term government and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We'll render all of the assist wanted for the assumption of office by the brand new term of government."

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