Hong Kong’s next Chief Government might be Beijing loyalist John Lee

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

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

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to pick out the new chief. Lee only wanted a simple 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 language rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is ruled below the "one country, two programs" framework, and has limited election rights and a largely separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by way of a serious overhaul last 12 months after Beijing said that solely so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to manipulate the city.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his performance will probably be "challenged by the dearth 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 based on the law is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that variety of help, in fact, it encourages me and offers me the sturdy confidence that my path is agreed and shared by a variety 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 be aware last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's selection of Lee as the subsequent Hong Kong chief.

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and enterprise center to taking part in a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "While the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly geared up to answer a major shock."

According to 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 attempt to blunt its unfold. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, but started easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a very clear point that I am very acutely aware of the must be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

On the press conference, Lee was also asked how he will show the international community that Hong Kong is open for business.

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

"I make it a very clear point that I'm very conscious of the have to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland."

He mentioned he shall be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out out what are the conditions that will likely be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also called on residents to comply with the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and mentioned the city will search to spice up its vaccination fee. Based on authorities statistics, greater 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 extend my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press release. "The current-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We will render all of the support wanted for the idea of office by the brand new term of government."

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