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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's high 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 the new chief. Lee solely needed a easy majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was previously Hong Kong's chief secretary, will start his five-year time period on July 1, changing outgoing Chief Government Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative region of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is governed under the "one nation, two methods" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went through a significant overhaul last yr after Beijing stated that only so-called "patriots" must be allowed to control the city.

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

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

"Anybody, who in keeping with the regulation is qualified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Pointing out that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that number of support, after all, it encourages me and offers me the strong confidence that my route is agreed and shared by lots of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

In a observe last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's choice of Lee as the subsequent Hong Kong leader.

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global monetary and enterprise heart to playing a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "Whereas the risks 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 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 city tightened restrictions additional in February as new circumstances raged, but started easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a very clear point that I'm very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And also it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

On the press conference, Lee was additionally requested how he will show the international neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

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

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

Lee also known as on citizens to follow the advice and measures of the government, and mentioned the city will seek to spice up its vaccination fee. In line with authorities statistics, greater than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have received their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have received their second dose.

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

"I lengthen my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she stated in a press launch. "The present-term government and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We'll render all the help wanted for the belief of workplace by the brand new term of presidency."

Correction: This story has been updated to mirror that John Lee won 1,416 votes in Hong Kong's chief executive election. An earlier model of the story misrepresented that determine.