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

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

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 top submit, won 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee solid their votes to select the new leader. Lee solely wanted 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 Government Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative area of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is ruled below the "one country, two methods" framework, and has restricted election rights and a principally separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a significant overhaul final 12 months after Beijing stated that only so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to manipulate the city.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency will probably be "challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some people."

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

"Anyone, who in response to the law 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, in fact, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my path is agreed and shared by loads of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

In a word last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's alternative of Lee as the subsequent Hong Kong chief.

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

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

According to 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 attempt to blunt its spread. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, but began easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a really clear point that I am very aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

At the press conference, Lee was also requested how he will present the international community that Hong Kong is open for business.

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

"I make it a very clear level that I'm very acutely aware of the must be accessible to the world. And also it is an important factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland."

He mentioned he will probably be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the circumstances that can be required for regular travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also known as on residents to follow the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and said the town will seek to spice up its vaccination fee. In accordance with government statistics, more than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have acquired their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have obtained their second dose.

Hong Kong's outgoing chief govt Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

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

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