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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the only candidate for Hong Kong's top submit, 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 executive.

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's high put up, 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 new leader. Lee solely wanted a simple 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, replacing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's governed below the "one nation, two techniques" framework, and has restricted election rights and a mostly separate authorized and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a serious overhaul final 12 months after Beijing mentioned that solely so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to control town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his performance might 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."

"Anybody, who in line with the legislation is certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

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

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

In a observe last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's selection of Lee as the next Hong Kong chief.

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide financial and business middle to enjoying a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly outfitted to reply 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 try and blunt its spread. The town tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, but started easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a very clear level that I'm very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And also it is an important factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

At the press conference, Lee was also asked how he will present the international community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Yes, we've got challenges now because of the need to management Covid-19 and some of the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear level that I'm very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal journey with the mainland."

He mentioned he will probably be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the situations that will be required for normal travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also referred to as on residents to observe the advice and measures of the government, and mentioned the town will seek to boost its vaccination rate. In keeping with authorities statistics, more than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have obtained their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have obtained their second dose.

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

"I lengthen my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she mentioned in a press launch. "The present-term authorities and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We will render all the help wanted for the idea of office by the new time period of presidency."

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