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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the one candidate for Hong Kong's top post, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent chief executive.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top submit, received 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 new chief. Lee only wanted a easy 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 Govt Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative area of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It is governed beneath the "one nation, two programs" framework, and has restricted election rights and a mostly separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a major overhaul final year after Beijing stated that solely so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to control the town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency shall be "challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some individuals."

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

"Anyone, who based on the regulation is qualified, can take part 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 offers me the sturdy 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 subsequent chief govt.

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

In a observe final week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's alternative of Lee as the next Hong Kong chief.

"The number of Lee, a career police officer who played a number one position in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, signifies that Beijing's high precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political security moderately than preserving its position as a dynamic world hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and enterprise heart 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 may be poorly outfitted to respond to a serious shock."

Consistent with China's Covid-19 policy, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" strategy for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an try and blunt its unfold. The town tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, but started easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed resulting from a surge in Covid instances in the Asian financial hub.

I make it a very clear point that I'm very 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 normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

At the press conference, Lee was additionally asked how he will present the worldwide group that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

"I make it a very clear point that I am very conscious of the need to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is an important thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal journey with the mainland."

He stated he might be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the conditions that shall be required for regular journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also known as on citizens to comply with the advice and measures of the government, and stated the town will seek to spice up its vaccination charge. Based on government statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have obtained their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have acquired 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 successful election," she stated in a press release. "The current-term authorities and I'll ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We will render all of the assist wanted for the idea of office by the new time period of government."

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