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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the one candidate for Hong Kong's top 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 next chief executive.

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's high publish, won 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

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

The 64-year-old Lee, who was previously Hong Kong's chief secretary, will begin his five-year time period 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.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is governed underneath the "one country, two systems" framework, and has restricted election rights and a principally separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by way of a major overhaul final 12 months after Beijing said that solely so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to control town.

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

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

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

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

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The collection of Lee, a career police officer who played a leading role 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 rather than preserving its function as a dynamic international hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide financial and enterprise heart to taking part in a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly outfitted to answer a serious shock."

According to China's Covid-19 coverage, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" strategy for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an attempt to blunt its unfold. Town tightened restrictions additional in February as new circumstances raged, however began easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a really clear point that I am very acutely aware of the need to 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 executive

At the press conference, Lee was additionally asked how he'll show the international community that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Yes, we've challenges now because of the necessity to control Covid-19 and among the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear point that I am very aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is an important factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal journey with the mainland."

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

Lee also known as on residents to observe the recommendation and measures of the government, and mentioned town will seek to boost its vaccination charge. In line with authorities statistics, more than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have obtained 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 release. "The present-term authorities and I'll ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We will render all of the assist needed for the belief of workplace by the brand new time period of government."

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