Hong Kong’s next Chief Executive might 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 government.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's prime publish, 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 solely needed a simple 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, replacing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative region of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's governed underneath the "one nation, two systems" framework, and has restricted election rights and a mostly separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by way of a serious overhaul final yr after Beijing mentioned that only so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to govern the town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency might be "challenged by the shortage of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some people."

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

"Anybody, who according to the law is qualified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Pointing out that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that variety of support, in fact, it encourages me and gives me the sturdy confidence that my path is agreed and shared by a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

"The choice of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a number one position within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's prime precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety rather than preserving its position as a dynamic global hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and enterprise middle to playing a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "Whereas the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly geared up to reply to a serious shock."

In line with China's Covid-19 coverage, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" technique for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an try and blunt its spread. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, however started easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a really clear point that I am very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

At the press convention, Lee was additionally asked how he will present the international community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Sure, we have challenges now due to the necessity to management Covid-19 and a few of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear point that I'm very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And also it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland."

He stated he might be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the conditions that can be required for regular journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also known as on residents to follow the recommendation and measures of the government, and said the city will search to spice up its vaccination fee. In accordance with 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 received their second dose.

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

"I lengthen my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press launch. "The current-term government and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We are going to render all of the support wanted for the assumption of office by the new time period of government."

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