Hong Kong’s next Chief Govt will 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 Photos

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top put up, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to select the new chief. Lee solely needed a easy majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was previously 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 region of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It's ruled underneath the "one nation, two programs" framework, and has restricted election rights and a principally separate legal and economic system.

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

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his performance will likely be "challenged by the dearth 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 certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that variety of assist, in fact, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my route is agreed and shared by quite a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

"The selection of Lee, a career police officer who performed a leading role in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's prime precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political security quite than preserving its function as a dynamic world hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and business middle to enjoying a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "Whereas the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly outfitted to reply to a major shock."

Consistent 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 unfold. The town tightened restrictions additional in February as new instances raged, however started easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a very clear level that I'm very aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is an important factor for Hong Kong to have the ability 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 will show the worldwide neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

"I make it a really clear level that I am very conscious of the need to be accessible to the world. And also it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland."

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

Lee additionally referred to as on residents to follow the advice and measures of the government, and mentioned town will search to boost its vaccination price. According to government statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have acquired their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have acquired their second dose.

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

"I extend my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she mentioned in a press release. "The current-term authorities and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We are going to render all of the support needed for the assumption of workplace by the brand new term of government."

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