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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the only candidate for Hong Kong's high put up, 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 next chief government.

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's prime post, received 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee forged their votes to select the brand new chief. Lee only wanted a easy majority to win.

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

Hong Kong is a particular administrative area of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It is ruled below the "one nation, two techniques" framework, and has restricted election rights and a largely separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a serious overhaul last year after Beijing stated that solely so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to manipulate the town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his performance might 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 legal guidelines of Hong Kong."

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

Mentioning that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of support, after all, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by lots of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

"The selection 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 top precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political security moderately than preserving its role as a dynamic world hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide financial and enterprise center to playing a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "While the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly equipped to answer a significant shock."

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

The election was earlier postponed attributable to a surge in Covid instances within the Asian financial hub.

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

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

At the press convention, Lee was also asked how he'll present the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Sure, now we have challenges now because of the necessity 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 am very acutely aware of the should be accessible to the world. And also it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland."

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

Lee also referred to as on citizens to follow the recommendation and measures of the government, and stated town will search to boost its vaccination fee. In keeping 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 sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press launch. "The present-term government and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We are going to render all of the assist wanted for the idea of workplace by the brand new time period of presidency."

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