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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top post, received 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to select the brand new leader. Lee solely wanted a simple majority to win.

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

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It is ruled beneath the "one country, two techniques" framework, and has limited election rights and a mostly separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a major overhaul last year after Beijing mentioned that solely so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to control town.

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

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

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

Pointing out that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of assist, after all, it encourages me and offers me the strong confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

"The choice of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a leading role in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, signifies that Beijing's top priority for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety moderately than preserving its position as a dynamic global hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and business heart to taking part in a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "Whereas the dangers to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly equipped to answer 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 try and blunt its spread. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, but started easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a very clear level that I am very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial 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 additionally requested how he will show the worldwide neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

"I make it a very clear level that I'm very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland."

He mentioned he will probably be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the situations that will be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also called on residents to comply with the advice and measures of the government, and mentioned town will search to boost its vaccination charge. In keeping with 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 obtained their second dose.

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

"I prolong my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she mentioned in a press launch. "The present-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We will render all of the support wanted for the belief of workplace by the brand new term of presidency."

Correction: This story has been updated to replicate that John Lee received 1,416 votes in Hong Kong's chief government election. An earlier model of the story misrepresented that figure.