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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's high publish, received 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 brand 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 term on July 1, replacing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

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

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a major overhaul last yr after Beijing said that solely so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to manipulate the city.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his efficiency can be "challenged by the shortage 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 line with the legislation is qualified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of support, of course, it encourages me and offers me the sturdy confidence that my path is agreed and shared by lots of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The collection of Lee, a profession police officer who played a number one role in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, signifies that Beijing's high priority for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety moderately than preserving its function as a dynamic world hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global financial and enterprise middle to taking part in a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "Whereas the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly geared up to answer a significant 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 attempt to blunt its spread. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, but began easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed as a consequence of a surge in Covid instances within the Asian financial hub.

I make it a very clear level that I'm very aware of the must be accessible to the world. And in addition 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 additionally requested how he'll present the worldwide group that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Yes, we now have challenges now due to the necessity to control Covid-19 and some of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear level that I'm very acutely aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And also it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland."

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

Lee additionally referred to as on residents to observe the recommendation and measures of the government, and said town will search to boost its vaccination rate. Based on authorities statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants 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 govt Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I prolong my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she said in a press release. "The current-term government and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We are going to render all the assist wanted for the assumption of workplace by the new time period of government."

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