Hong Kong’s subsequent Chief Govt will probably 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 next 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 prime put up, 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 solely wanted 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, changing outgoing Chief Executive 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's ruled beneath the "one country, two techniques" framework, and has restricted election rights and a largely separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a major overhaul final 12 months after Beijing stated that solely so-called "patriots" must be allowed to govern town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was requested if his performance can be "challenged by the dearth 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 in response to the legislation is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Mentioning that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of assist, of course, it encourages me and gives me the sturdy 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 govt.

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The choice of Lee, a career police officer who performed a leading position within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety quite than preserving its role as a dynamic international hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global monetary and business center to taking part in a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "While the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly geared up to reply to a serious shock."

In line 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 city tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, but began easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed resulting from a surge in Covid circumstances in the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a really clear level that I'm very aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And also it is an important factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

At the press convention, Lee was additionally requested how he'll present the international community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

"I make it a really clear level that I'm very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And also it is an important thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland."

He stated he might be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the circumstances that will be required for regular travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally known as on residents to observe the advice and measures of the federal government, and mentioned the town will seek to boost its vaccination fee. According to authorities statistics, more than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have received their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have received 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 profitable election," she stated in a press release. "The present-term government and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We are going to render all the support needed for the assumption of office by the brand new term of presidency."

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