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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the only candidate for Hong Kong's high 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 next chief govt.

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top submit, 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 leader. Lee only wanted a simple majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was previously Hong Kong's chief secretary, will start his five-year time period on July 1, changing outgoing Chief Government Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It's governed below the "one country, two methods" framework, and has restricted election rights and a mostly separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went through a serious overhaul last 12 months after Beijing said that solely so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to govern the city.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was requested if his performance will 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 legal guidelines of Hong Kong."

"Anybody, who based on the law 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 support, of course, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my course is agreed and shared by a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

"The choice of Lee, a career police officer who performed a number one role in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's prime priority for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety moderately than preserving its position as a dynamic global hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and enterprise middle to enjoying a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "Whereas the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly equipped to reply to a major 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 try and blunt its unfold. The city tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, however began easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed as a consequence of a surge in Covid cases in the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a really clear point 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.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press convention, Lee was also requested how he'll present the international 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 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 likewise it is an important factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland."

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

Lee additionally called on residents to follow the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and stated the city will search to spice up its vaccination charge. According to authorities 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 received their second dose.

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

"I prolong my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she mentioned in a press release. "The current-term government and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We'll render all of the assist needed for the idea of workplace by the 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 model of the story misrepresented that figure.