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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the one candidate for Hong Kong's prime 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 government.

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

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee solid their votes to select the new chief. Lee only needed 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, changing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is ruled under 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 means of a significant overhaul last 12 months after Beijing mentioned that solely so-called "patriots" must be allowed to control the town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his efficiency will likely be "challenged by the dearth of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some folks."

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

"Anyone, who in keeping with the legislation is certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of assist, after all, it encourages me and provides me the robust confidence that my path is agreed and shared by a whole lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The collection of Lee, a career police officer who played a leading function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political security rather than preserving its position as a dynamic international hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide financial and business middle to taking part in a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly outfitted to reply to a serious 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 try and blunt its unfold. The city tightened restrictions additional in February as new instances raged, however started easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a really clear level that I am very aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And also it is a vital thing 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 conference, Lee was also asked how he will present the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Sure, we've got 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 really clear point that I'm very acutely aware of the should be accessible to the world. And also it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland."

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

Lee additionally referred to as on residents to follow the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and stated the city will seek to boost its vaccination price. In keeping with authorities 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 received their second dose.

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

"I prolong my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press release. "The current-term authorities and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We'll render all the support needed for the assumption of office by the new term of government."

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