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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the only candidate for Hong Kong's top publish, 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 subsequent chief government.

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's high publish, won 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to select the brand new chief. 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, replacing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular 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 restricted election rights and a principally separate authorized and economic system.

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

At a press conference after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency might be "challenged by the dearth of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some individuals."

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

"Anybody, who based on the law is qualified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Stating that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of help, in fact, it encourages me and provides me the strong confidence that my route is agreed and shared by a number of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and business center to playing a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "Whereas the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly geared up to respond to a major shock."

According to 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 attempt to blunt its unfold. The city tightened restrictions additional in February as new circumstances raged, but began easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed resulting from a surge in Covid cases within the Asian monetary 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 crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press conference, Lee was additionally requested how he will show the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for business.

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

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

He stated he will likely be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the situations that might be required for regular journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally known as on residents to comply with the recommendation and measures of the government, and mentioned the town will seek to spice up its vaccination fee. In response to authorities statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants 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 executive Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I prolong my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she stated in a press launch. "The present-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We are going to render all the support wanted for the belief of office by the brand new time period of government."

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