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 high submit, has been elected to be Hong Kong's next chief government.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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 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 out the brand 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 particular administrative area of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's governed under the "one nation, two techniques" framework, and has limited election rights and a largely separate authorized and economic system.

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

At a press conference after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency will likely be "challenged by the shortage of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some people."

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

"Anybody, who in accordance with the law is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of assist, after all, it encourages me and provides me the robust confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by numerous election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

"The number of Lee, a career police officer who played a leading position in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political security reasonably than preserving its role as a dynamic global hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and business middle to taking part in a narrower role 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 geared up to answer a major shock."

In keeping 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 unfold. The city tightened restrictions further in February as new instances raged, but began easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed resulting from a surge in Covid instances in the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a very clear level that I'm very aware of the should be accessible to the world. And also it is a crucial factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

At the press convention, Lee was also asked how he will present the international neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for business.

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

"I make it a really clear point that I'm 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 journey with the mainland."

He said he might be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out out what are the conditions that will likely be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also known as on residents to comply with the advice and measures of the federal government, and said the city will search to boost its vaccination rate. In accordance with authorities statistics, greater than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have acquired their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have acquired their second dose.

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

"I extend my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press release. "The present-term government and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We'll render all the help wanted for the idea of office by the new time period of presidency."

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