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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's prime post, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee forged their votes to pick the new leader. Lee only needed a simple majority to win.

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

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It's ruled below the "one nation, two programs" framework, and has limited election rights and a largely separate authorized and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a serious overhaul last yr after Beijing stated that solely so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to manipulate the city.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his performance might be "challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some individuals."

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

"Anyone, who in line with the law is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The choice of Lee, a profession police officer who played a leading position in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's top priority for Hong Kong is sustaining political security reasonably than preserving its function as a dynamic global hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global monetary and business heart to playing a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "Whereas the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly equipped to respond to a serious shock."

Consistent with China's Covid-19 policy, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" strategy for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an try and blunt its spread. The city tightened restrictions additional in February as new circumstances raged, however began easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed resulting from a surge in Covid cases within the Asian financial hub.

I make it a really clear level that I'm very aware of the must be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

On the press convention, Lee was additionally asked how he will show the worldwide group that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Yes, we now have challenges now because of the need to management Covid-19 and a number of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear point that I'm very acutely aware of the must be accessible to the world. And likewise it is an important thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland."

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

Lee additionally known as on citizens to follow the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and mentioned the city will seek to spice up its vaccination price. In keeping with authorities statistics, greater than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have obtained their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have received 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 successful election," she said in a press release. "The current-term authorities and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We will render all the support needed for the belief of workplace by the new time period of presidency."

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