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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the only candidate for Hong Kong's high post, 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 one candidate for Hong Kong's high publish, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee solid their votes to select the new leader. Lee solely needed a easy majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was formerly Hong Kong's chief secretary, will begin his five-year time period on July 1, changing outgoing Chief Govt 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 is governed beneath the "one country, two methods" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a major overhaul final yr after Beijing said that only so-called "patriots" should be allowed to manipulate town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency can be "challenged by the shortage of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some folks."

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 qualified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Pointing out that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of help, after all, it encourages me and provides me the robust confidence that my path is agreed and shared by plenty of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

In a notice final week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's choice of Lee as the following Hong Kong chief.

"The choice of Lee, a profession police officer who played a number one position in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's prime priority for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety somewhat than preserving its function as a dynamic world hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and business center to taking part in a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "Whereas the dangers to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly equipped to reply to a major shock."

According to 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. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, but began easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a very clear level that I am very acutely aware of the should be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

On the press conference, Lee was also asked how he will show the worldwide neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

"I make it a very clear point that I am very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And also it is an important thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular travel with the mainland."

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

Lee additionally called on citizens to follow the recommendation and measures of the government, and mentioned town will seek to spice up its vaccination price. In accordance with government 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 received 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 successful election," she said in a press release. "The present-term government and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We will render all the help needed for the assumption of office by the new time period of government."

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