Hong Kong’s subsequent Chief Executive will likely be Beijing loyalist John Lee

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

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

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

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

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

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a serious overhaul last 12 months after Beijing mentioned that only so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to manipulate the town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked 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."

"Anybody, who based on the regulation 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 variety of support, after all, it encourages me and gives me the sturdy confidence that my course is agreed and shared by a number of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

"The collection of Lee, a career police officer who played a number one function within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's high precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety quite than preserving its position as a dynamic international hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and business center to playing a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly geared up to answer a serious shock."

In step 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 spread. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, but started easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed attributable to a surge in Covid instances in the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a really clear level that I'm very aware of the have to 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.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

At the press convention, Lee was additionally asked how he'll show the international neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Yes, we now have challenges now due to the need to management Covid-19 and a few of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear point that I'm very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And also it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal journey with the mainland."

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

Lee additionally known as on residents to follow the advice and measures of the federal government, and mentioned town will seek to spice up its vaccination charge. 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 received their second dose.

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

"I lengthen my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she stated in a press launch. "The current-term government and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We will render all the help needed for the idea of office by the brand new term of government."

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