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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the one candidate for Hong Kong's prime publish, has been elected to be Hong Kong's next 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 put up, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee forged their votes to pick the new leader. Lee only needed 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 special administrative region of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's governed underneath the "one country, two programs" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a serious overhaul last year after Beijing stated that only so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to govern town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was requested if his performance might be "challenged by the shortage of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some individuals."

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

"Anyone, who according to the law 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 help, of course, it encourages me and provides me the robust confidence that my path is agreed and shared by quite a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide financial and business center to enjoying a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "Whereas the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly geared up to reply to a major shock."

In line 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 unfold. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, but started easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed as a result of a surge in Covid circumstances within the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a really clear point that I'm very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And also it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

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

"Sure, we've challenges now because of the need to management Covid-19 and some of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear level that I'm very conscious of the need to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland."

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

Lee also called on residents to observe the recommendation and measures of the government, and said the city will search to spice up its vaccination fee. In line with government statistics, more than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have obtained 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 honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press launch. "The present-term authorities and I'll ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We'll render all the help wanted for the idea of workplace by the new term of government."

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