Hong Kong’s subsequent Chief Government will likely be Beijing loyalist John Lee

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's top publish, won 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee solid their votes to pick the brand new leader. Lee solely 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 Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative region of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's ruled under the "one nation, two techniques" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate authorized and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by way of a major overhaul last yr after Beijing mentioned that only so-called "patriots" must be allowed to manipulate town.

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

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

"Anybody, who according to the regulation is qualified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Mentioning that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that variety of assist, of course, it encourages me and offers me the robust confidence that my course is agreed and shared by numerous election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

In a notice last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's alternative of Lee as the following Hong Kong leader.

"The selection of Lee, a career police officer who played a number one function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's prime priority 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 world financial and enterprise heart to playing a narrower position 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 outfitted to reply to a significant shock."

According to 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 spread. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, but started easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed due to a surge in Covid cases within the Asian financial hub.

I make it a really clear point that I am very aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

On the press convention, Lee was additionally asked how he'll present the worldwide neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for business.

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

"I make it a very clear level that I am very aware of the should be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland."

He said he will probably be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out out what are the circumstances that might be required for normal travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally referred to as on residents to observe the recommendation and measures of the government, and said the city will search to spice up its vaccination fee. In keeping with government 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 obtained 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 profitable election," she stated in a press release. "The current-term government and I'll ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We are going to render all the assist needed for the belief of office by the brand new term of presidency."

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