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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the only candidate for Hong Kong's prime put up, has been elected to be Hong Kong's next chief government.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

John Lee, a Beijing loyalist, has been elected to be Hong Kong's next 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 solid their votes to select the new chief. Lee solely needed a simple 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, replacing outgoing Chief Executive 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 is ruled underneath the "one country, two systems" framework, and has restricted election rights and a mostly separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a serious overhaul last 12 months after Beijing stated that only so-called "patriots" must be allowed to govern town.

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 laws of Hong Kong."

"Anyone, who in line with the legislation is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Mentioning that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that variety of assist, in fact, it encourages me and gives me the robust confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by numerous election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

In a word last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's choice of Lee as the next Hong Kong leader.

"The number of Lee, a career police officer who performed a number one position within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, signifies that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political security fairly than preserving its position as a dynamic world hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and enterprise middle to enjoying a narrower function 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 geared up to respond to a significant shock."

In keeping 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 attempt to blunt its spread. The city tightened restrictions additional in February as new circumstances raged, but started easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed resulting from a surge in Covid cases within the Asian financial hub.

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

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

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

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

"I make it a very clear point that I'm very conscious 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 travel with the mainland."

He said he might be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the situations that will probably be required for regular travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally known as on citizens to observe the recommendation and measures of the government, and said the town will search to boost its vaccination rate. According to government statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have acquired their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have acquired their second dose.

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

"I lengthen my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she mentioned in a press launch. "The present-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We'll render all the support needed for the assumption of office by the new term of government."

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