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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the only candidate for Hong Kong's top post, has been elected to be Hong Kong's next chief executive.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's top put up, won 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee forged their votes to pick out 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 begin 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 rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is governed underneath the "one country, two techniques" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a significant overhaul last year after Beijing said that only so-called "patriots" should be allowed to manipulate the city.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his performance will probably be "challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy in 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 keeping with the legislation is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

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

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global monetary and enterprise middle to taking part in a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "Whereas the dangers to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly equipped to answer a serious 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 attempt to blunt its unfold. Town tightened restrictions additional in February as new instances raged, however began easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a really clear point that I am very acutely aware of the must be accessible to the world. And likewise it is an important factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press conference, Lee was also requested how he'll present the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Yes, now we have challenges now because of the necessity to management 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 should be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland."

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

Lee also known as on residents to observe the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and said town will search to boost its vaccination charge. In response to 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 sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she mentioned in a press release. "The present-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We'll render all of the support wanted for the idea of office by the new term of government."

Correction: This story has been updated 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.