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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's high submit, received 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee forged their votes to pick out the new leader. Lee only needed a easy 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 Govt Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's ruled under the "one nation, two programs" framework, and has restricted election rights and a principally separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a serious overhaul last 12 months after Beijing stated that solely so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to control the city.

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

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

"Anyone, who based on the legislation 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 support, of course, it encourages me and provides me the strong confidence that my course is agreed and shared by lots of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and enterprise heart to playing a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "While the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly outfitted to answer a major shock."

In line 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 spread. Town tightened restrictions additional in February as new circumstances raged, but started easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed as a consequence of a surge in Covid instances within the Asian monetary 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 an important factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

At the press convention, Lee was also requested how he'll show the international neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Yes, we now have challenges now because of the need to control Covid-19 and among the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear level that I am very 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."

He said he shall be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the situations that shall be required for normal 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 search to spice up its vaccination rate. According to government statistics, more than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have received 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 prolong my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she mentioned in a press release. "The current-term authorities and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We are going to render all the support wanted for the assumption of office by the brand new time period of government."

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