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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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 post, 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 brand new leader. Lee solely needed a easy majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was formerly Hong Kong's chief secretary, will start his five-year term on July 1, changing outgoing Chief Govt Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative region of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is governed below the "one country, two methods" framework, and has limited election rights and a mostly separate authorized and financial system.

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

At a press conference after his election, Lee was requested if his performance will probably be "challenged by the shortage of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some people."

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

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

Declaring that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that variety of help, after all, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my path is agreed and shared by quite a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

"The choice of Lee, a career police officer who played a number one role within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's prime priority for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety quite than preserving its function as a dynamic international hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global financial and enterprise center to enjoying a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "Whereas the dangers to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly outfitted 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 spread. The city tightened restrictions additional in February as new circumstances raged, but began easing barely in late April.

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

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 an important factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press conference, Lee was also requested how he'll show the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Sure, now we have challenges now due to the need to management Covid-19 and among the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear level that I am very conscious of the have to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland."

He stated he might be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out out what are the conditions that will likely be required for normal travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally called on residents to follow the recommendation and measures of the government, and stated the town will search to boost its vaccination rate. According 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 acquired 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 profitable election," she stated in a press release. "The present-term authorities and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We will render all of the assist wanted for the idea of workplace by the new term of presidency."

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