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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's high put up, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to pick out the new leader. Lee solely wanted a easy 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 particular administrative region of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's governed beneath the "one nation, two systems" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a significant overhaul final yr after Beijing stated that only so-called "patriots" should be allowed to control the town.

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

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

"Anyone, who in keeping with the legislation is qualified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

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

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

"The selection of Lee, a profession police officer who played 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 safety somewhat than preserving its function as a dynamic world hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and business center to playing a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "While the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly outfitted to respond to a serious shock."

Consistent with 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 further in February as new circumstances raged, but began easing slightly in late April.

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

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

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

At the press conference, Lee was additionally asked how he will present the worldwide group that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Sure, we have challenges now due to 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 should be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland."

He mentioned he can be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the conditions that might be required for regular travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally called on residents to observe the advice and measures of the government, and mentioned the city will seek to spice up its vaccination rate. Based on government statistics, more than 91% of the population 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 executive Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I extend my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she said in a press release. "The present-term government and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We'll render all the support wanted for the belief of office by the brand new time period of government."

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