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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

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

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to pick the brand new chief. Lee only needed a simple majority to win.

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

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It's governed under the "one country, two systems" framework, and has restricted election rights and a largely separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a significant overhaul final year after Beijing said that only so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to govern town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his performance will likely be "challenged by the dearth of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some people."

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

"Anyone, who in response to the law is certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of help, of course, it encourages me and gives me the robust confidence that my course is agreed and shared by numerous election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The selection of Lee, a career police officer who played a leading function within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety quite than preserving its role as a dynamic international hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and enterprise middle to playing a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly geared up to reply to a major 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 to blunt its unfold. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, however began easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed as a result of a surge in Covid circumstances within the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a very clear point that I am very acutely aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And also it is an important factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

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

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

"I make it a very clear point that I am very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And also it is an important thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland."

He stated he will likely be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the conditions that will be required for regular journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally known as on citizens to observe the recommendation and measures of the government, and mentioned the city will seek to boost its vaccination price. Based on authorities 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 received their second dose.

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

"I extend my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press release. "The present-term government and I'll ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We are going to render all the assist needed for the idea of workplace by the new term of presidency."

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