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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the one candidate for Hong Kong's top post, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent chief govt.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

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

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee solid their votes to pick out 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 start his five-year term on July 1, changing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's ruled under the "one country, two systems" framework, and has limited election rights and a mostly separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went through a major overhaul final 12 months after Beijing mentioned that solely so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to manipulate the town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his performance 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 laws of Hong Kong."

"Anyone, who in accordance with the regulation is qualified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

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

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The selection of Lee, a career police officer who performed a number one function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety relatively than preserving its function as a dynamic global hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and enterprise middle to playing a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "Whereas the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly geared up to respond to a major shock."

In line with 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 to blunt its unfold. The city tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, but started easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a very clear point that I'm very aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

On the press convention, Lee was also asked how he'll present the worldwide group that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

"I make it a very clear level that I'm very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland."

He stated he might be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the conditions that shall be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally called on residents to comply with the recommendation and measures of the government, and mentioned the town will search to spice up its vaccination rate. In response to authorities statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have received 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 extend my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she mentioned in a press release. "The present-term government and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We are going to render all the help wanted for the belief of office by the new time period of presidency."

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