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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's high put up, won 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 new chief. Lee only wanted a simple majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was previously Hong Kong's chief secretary, will start his five-year time period 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's ruled below the "one country, two techniques" framework, and has limited election rights and a largely separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by way of a significant overhaul final year after Beijing mentioned that solely so-called "patriots" should be allowed to control the town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was asked if his efficiency might be "challenged by the shortage of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some individuals."

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

"Anybody, who in response to the regulation is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of help, after all, it encourages me and provides me the robust confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by lots of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global monetary and business center to enjoying a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly equipped to reply to a significant 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 and blunt its spread. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, however started easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed on account of a surge in Covid cases in the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a really clear point that I'm very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And also it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

At the press conference, Lee was also asked how he will show the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Sure, we now have challenges now due to the necessity to control Covid-19 and some of the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

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

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

Lee also called on residents to comply with the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and said the city will seek to spice up its vaccination fee. In response to 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 executive Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

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

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