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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the one candidate for Hong Kong's high put up, 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 one candidate for Hong Kong's high submit, won 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee solid their votes to pick the new chief. Lee only wanted a easy 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, replacing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It is governed underneath the "one country, two programs" framework, and has restricted election rights and a principally separate authorized and financial system.

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

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his performance might be "challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some people."

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

"Anyone, who in response to the legislation 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 help, after all, it encourages me and offers me the robust confidence that my course is agreed and shared by loads of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

"The choice of Lee, a profession police officer who played a number one role in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political security rather than preserving its function as a dynamic world hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global financial and enterprise middle to taking part in a narrower role 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 answer a serious shock."

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

The election was earlier postponed on account of a surge in Covid cases in the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a very clear point that I am very conscious of the have to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press conference, Lee was also asked how he'll present the international neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Sure, we've challenges now due to the need to management Covid-19 and among the measures are indeed 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 have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland."

He said he will likely be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the circumstances that will probably be required for regular travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally called on residents to follow the recommendation and measures of the government, and mentioned the town will search to boost its vaccination fee. According to authorities 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 received their second dose.

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

"I lengthen my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she said in a press release. "The present-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We'll render all the help needed for the idea of office by the new term of government."

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