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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's high 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 brand new leader. Lee only 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 Government Carrie Lam.

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

Hong Kong's electoral system went by way of a serious overhaul final year after Beijing stated that only so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to manipulate the city.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was asked if his performance can 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 legal guidelines of Hong Kong."

"Anybody, who based on the law is qualified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Mentioning that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of help, of course, it encourages me and gives me the sturdy confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

In a observe last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's selection of Lee as the next Hong Kong leader.

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and business middle to enjoying a narrower function 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 geared up to reply to a significant shock."

In line with China's Covid-19 coverage, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" strategy for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an attempt to blunt its spread. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, however began easing slightly 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 really clear level that I am very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

On the press conference, Lee was also asked how he'll show the international neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Sure, we've challenges now because of the need to control Covid-19 and a few of the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear level that I am very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And likewise it is an important thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland."

He said he will likely be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the circumstances that will probably be required for regular journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also called on residents to follow the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and mentioned the city will search to spice up its vaccination price. In response to authorities 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 government Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I prolong my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she said in a press release. "The present-term authorities and I'll ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We are going to render all of the support needed for the belief of workplace by the brand new term of government."

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