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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the one candidate for Hong Kong's high 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 one 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 solid their votes to pick 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 start his five-year term on July 1, changing outgoing Chief Government Carrie Lam.

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

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a significant overhaul last yr after Beijing stated that solely so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to manipulate the city.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was asked if his performance will probably 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 in response to the regulation is qualified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

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

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and business center to taking part in a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "Whereas the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly geared up to reply to a significant shock."

According to China's Covid-19 policy, 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 town tightened restrictions additional in February as new instances raged, however began easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a really clear point that I'm very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And also it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

On the press conference, Lee was additionally asked how he will present the worldwide neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Yes, we've challenges now because of the need to management Covid-19 and a few of the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear level that I'm very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland."

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

Lee additionally known as on residents to comply with the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and mentioned town will seek to spice up its vaccination price. In line with government 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 obtained 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 successful election," she said in a press release. "The current-term government and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We will render all of the support wanted for the assumption of office by the brand new time period of government."

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