Hong Kong’s next Chief Government will probably be Beijing loyalist John Lee

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the one candidate for Hong Kong's prime submit, has been elected to be Hong Kong's next chief govt.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's prime submit, gained 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 brand 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 previous colony to Beijing. It's governed beneath the "one nation, two systems" framework, and has limited election rights and a mostly separate legal and financial system.

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

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency will probably be "challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some folks."

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

"Anybody, who in response to the law is qualified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Stating that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of assist, of course, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my course is agreed and shared by loads of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and business center to playing a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the dangers to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly equipped to answer a major shock."

In step 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. The city tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, however began easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed due to a surge in Covid circumstances in the Asian financial hub.

I make it a really clear level that I am very aware of the should be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

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

"Yes, we have now challenges now because of the necessity to management Covid-19 and a number of the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear level that I am very acutely aware of the should be accessible to the world. And also it is an important thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland."

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

Lee additionally referred to as on residents to follow the recommendation and measures of the government, and said the city will seek to boost its vaccination charge. In response to government statistics, more than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have received 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 sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she mentioned in a press launch. "The current-term authorities and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We are going to render all of the support wanted for the belief of office by the brand new term of government."

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