Hong Kong’s next Chief Government will probably 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 subsequent 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 put up, received 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to pick the brand new leader. Lee only needed a simple 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, changing outgoing Chief Govt 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 ruled under the "one country, two techniques" framework, and has restricted election rights and a principally separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a significant overhaul final yr after Beijing said that only so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to manipulate the city.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his performance will likely be "challenged by the dearth of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some individuals."

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

"Anybody, who in response to the regulation is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of assist, in fact, it encourages me and provides me the robust confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by a variety of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

In a notice final week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's alternative of Lee as the next Hong Kong chief.

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and business middle to taking part in a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "While the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly outfitted to reply to a serious shock."

Consistent 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 and blunt its spread. The city tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, however began easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a very clear point that I'm very conscious of the have to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

On the press convention, Lee was also asked how he'll show the worldwide neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Yes, now we have challenges now because of the need to control Covid-19 and some of the measures are certainly 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 in addition it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland."

He mentioned he can be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the situations that will likely be required for regular journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally known as on citizens to follow the advice and measures of the federal government, and mentioned the city will search to boost its vaccination fee. In response to government 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 acquired 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 said in a press launch. "The current-term government and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We will render all of the help needed for the belief of office by the new term of presidency."

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