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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the only candidate for Hong Kong's prime publish, 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 subsequent chief govt.

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's high submit, 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 brand new chief. Lee only needed 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, replacing outgoing Chief Government Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is ruled 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 through a serious overhaul last year after Beijing stated that only so-called "patriots" should be allowed to govern the city.

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 laws of Hong Kong."

"Anybody, who in response to the legislation is certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Mentioning that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of support, of course, it encourages me and gives me the strong confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by a whole lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

In a note last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's selection of Lee as the subsequent Hong Kong chief.

"The collection of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a leading function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's prime precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political security rather than preserving its position as a dynamic world hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and business center to playing a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly geared up to respond to a major 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 and blunt its unfold. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, but started easing slightly 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 very clear level that I'm very aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

On the press convention, Lee was also asked how he will present the international neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Sure, we now have challenges now due to the need to management Covid-19 and among the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear point that I'm very aware of the must be accessible to the world. And also it is a vital thing 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 will likely be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally known as on residents to comply with the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and said the city will seek to boost its vaccination fee. In keeping with government statistics, more than 91% of the inhabitants 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 executive Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I lengthen my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she mentioned in a press launch. "The current-term authorities and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We will render all the support wanted for the idea of workplace by the new time period of government."

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