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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top post, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to pick the new chief. Lee solely wanted a simple majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was formerly Hong Kong's chief secretary, will start his five-year time period 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.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is ruled below the "one country, two techniques" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a significant overhaul final yr after Beijing stated that solely 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 lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some people."

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

"Anybody, who according to the regulation is qualified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Pointing out that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that variety of support, of course, it encourages me and offers me the sturdy confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by a number of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

"The selection of Lee, a career police officer who performed a leading role within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political security slightly than preserving its position as a dynamic global hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global financial and business center to playing a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly equipped to answer a significant shock."

Consistent 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. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new instances raged, but began easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed as a result of a surge in Covid circumstances within the Asian financial hub.

I make it a very clear level that I am very acutely aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

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

"Yes, we have challenges now due to the need to control Covid-19 and some of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear level that I am very conscious of the have to be accessible to the world. And also it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland."

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

Lee also known as on citizens to comply with the advice and measures of the government, and said the town will search to boost its vaccination fee. In response to 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 prolong my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she said in a press release. "The present-term government and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We'll render all of the assist needed for the idea of workplace by the brand new time period of presidency."

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