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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the only candidate for Hong Kong's prime publish, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent chief government.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's top 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 brand new chief. 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, changing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's governed below the "one country, two programs" framework, and has restricted election rights and a principally separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a major overhaul final 12 months after Beijing mentioned that solely so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to manipulate town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was asked if his efficiency will be "challenged by the dearth 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 based on the legislation is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Stating that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that variety of assist, in fact, it encourages me and gives me the sturdy confidence that my course is agreed and shared by a variety of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

In a be aware last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's alternative of Lee as the subsequent Hong Kong leader.

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide financial and enterprise center to enjoying a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly equipped to reply to a serious shock."

According to 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 spread. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, however started easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed attributable to a surge in Covid cases within the Asian financial hub.

I make it a really clear level that I'm very aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press convention, Lee was also requested how he will show the worldwide neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

"I make it a very clear level that I am very acutely aware 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."

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

Lee also known as on residents to comply with the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and said town will search to boost its vaccination fee. In keeping with government statistics, greater than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have obtained their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have obtained their second dose.

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

"I prolong my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she said in a press release. "The present-term government and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We'll render all the assist wanted for the belief of office by the brand new time period of presidency."

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that John Lee received 1,416 votes in Hong Kong's chief govt election. An earlier version of the story misrepresented that figure.