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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's prime submit, 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 brand new leader. Lee only needed a easy majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was formerly Hong Kong's chief secretary, will begin his five-year term on July 1, replacing outgoing Chief Government 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 previous colony to Beijing. It is governed underneath the "one country, two programs" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate authorized and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went through a major overhaul last yr after Beijing mentioned that solely so-called "patriots" must be allowed to govern the town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency will likely be "challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some people."

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

"Anybody, who based on the regulation is certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Mentioning that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of assist, of course, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my route is agreed and shared by quite a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

"The selection of Lee, a career police officer who played a number one position within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety slightly than preserving its position as a dynamic international hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and business heart to enjoying a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly geared up to reply to a serious shock."

In step with China's Covid-19 coverage, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" strategy 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, but started easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed because of a surge in Covid circumstances in the Asian financial hub.

I make it a very clear point that I'm very aware of the must be accessible to the world. And also it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

At the press conference, Lee was additionally requested how he'll present the international community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Yes, we now have challenges now due to the necessity to control Covid-19 and some of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear point that I'm very aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland."

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

Lee additionally called on residents to comply with the recommendation and measures of the government, and mentioned the city will search to boost its vaccination charge. According to authorities statistics, more than 91% of the inhabitants 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 government Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

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

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