Hong Kong’s subsequent Chief Govt shall be Beijing loyalist John Lee

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

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 post, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to pick the brand new leader. Lee solely wanted a simple 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, changing outgoing Chief Govt Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative region of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's governed beneath the "one country, two techniques" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a serious overhaul last yr after Beijing said that only so-called "patriots" should be allowed to manipulate town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his performance can be "challenged by the lack 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 line with the legislation is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that number of assist, of course, it encourages me and gives me the robust confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by plenty 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 last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's alternative of Lee as the next Hong Kong chief.

"The number of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a leading position in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's prime precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political security reasonably than preserving its function as a dynamic international hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and business middle to playing a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "Whereas the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly equipped to reply to a serious shock."

In keeping with 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 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 due to a surge in Covid instances in the Asian financial hub.

I make it a really clear point that I'm very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

On the press conference, Lee was additionally requested how he'll present the international group that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Sure, we've got challenges now due to the need to control Covid-19 and some of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear point that I'm very conscious 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 said he will be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the conditions that might be required for regular travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally called on citizens to observe the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and said the town will search to boost its vaccination rate. In accordance with government statistics, more than 91% of the population 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 government Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I lengthen my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she stated in a press release. "The current-term authorities and I'll ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We will render all of the support needed for the assumption of workplace by the brand new time period of government."

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