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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

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

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee forged their votes to pick out the new leader. Lee only needed a easy majority to win.

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

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

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

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his performance can 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 legal guidelines of Hong Kong."

"Anyone, who in accordance with the regulation is certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Mentioning that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that number of help, of course, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my path is agreed and shared by loads of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

"The choice of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a number one position in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's high precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety fairly than preserving its role as a dynamic international hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and business middle to enjoying 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 could also be poorly equipped to answer a serious shock."

In keeping 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 and blunt its spread. The city tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, however started easing barely 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 point that I'm very aware of the should be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

At the press convention, Lee was also asked how he will show the worldwide group that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Sure, we've challenges now because of the necessity to management Covid-19 and among the measures are certainly 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 in addition it is a crucial factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular travel with the mainland."

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

Lee also called on residents to comply with the advice and measures of the federal government, and stated the city will search to boost its vaccination fee. In response to government statistics, greater than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have obtained 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 lengthen my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press release. "The present-term government and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We'll render all the help needed for the belief of office by the brand new term of presidency."

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