Hong Kong’s next Chief Executive can be Beijing loyalist John Lee

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's top put up, 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 brand 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 Government Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative area of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is governed underneath the "one country, two methods" framework, and has restricted election rights and a mostly separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a serious overhaul last 12 months after Beijing mentioned that only so-called "patriots" should be allowed to govern town.

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

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

"Anybody, who in accordance with the law is qualified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

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

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

In a notice final week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's alternative of Lee as the subsequent Hong Kong chief.

"The choice of Lee, a career police officer who played a number one position in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's high precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety reasonably than preserving its role as a dynamic international hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and business center to taking part in 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 equipped to respond to a significant shock."

Consistent with China's Covid-19 policy, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" strategy for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an attempt to blunt its spread. 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 financial hub.

I make it a really clear point that I am very acutely aware 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 journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

At the press conference, Lee was additionally requested how he'll show the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Sure, we've challenges now due to the need 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 aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular travel with the mainland."

He stated he will likely be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the circumstances that can be required for regular travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally known as on residents to observe the recommendation and measures of the government, and said town will seek to boost its vaccination rate. Based on authorities 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 received their second dose.

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

"I extend my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she mentioned in a press launch. "The current-term government and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We are going to render all of the help wanted for the belief of workplace by the new time period of presidency."

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