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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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 submit, received 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee forged their votes to select the new leader. Lee solely needed a easy 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, replacing outgoing Chief Executive 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 nation, two programs" framework, and has limited election rights and a largely separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a serious overhaul last year after Beijing said that solely so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to govern the city.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was asked if his efficiency will likely be "challenged by the shortage 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 based on the regulation is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that number of assist, in fact, it encourages me and offers me the strong confidence that my path is agreed and shared by numerous election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

"The number of Lee, a profession police officer who played a number one position within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's top priority for Hong Kong is sustaining political security relatively than preserving its role as a dynamic global hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global financial and enterprise center to taking part in a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "While the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly geared up to reply to a major shock."

According to China's Covid-19 coverage, 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. The town tightened restrictions additional in February as new instances raged, however began easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a really clear level that I am very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

On the press conference, Lee was additionally asked how he will present the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Sure, now we have challenges now because of the need to management Covid-19 and among the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear level that I'm very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland."

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

Lee additionally called on citizens to follow the advice and measures of the government, and stated the town will seek to boost its vaccination charge. Based on government statistics, greater than 91% of the population 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 government Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I extend my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she said in a press launch. "The present-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We'll render all of the help wanted for the idea of workplace by the new term of presidency."

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