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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the only candidate for Hong Kong's high publish, has been elected to be Hong Kong's next chief executive.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's prime submit, 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 brand new chief. Lee solely 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, changing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It is ruled under the "one nation, two programs" framework, and has limited election rights and a mostly separate authorized and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by way of a major overhaul last yr after Beijing mentioned that solely so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to govern town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was asked if his efficiency shall be "challenged by the shortage of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some folks."

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

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

Stating that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that variety of assist, in fact, it encourages me and gives me the robust confidence that my route is agreed and shared by a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

In a notice last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's selection of Lee as the following Hong Kong chief.

"The selection of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a leading function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety somewhat than preserving its role as a dynamic world hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and enterprise middle to playing a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly outfitted to respond to a serious shock."

In step with China's Covid-19 coverage, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" technique for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an attempt to blunt its unfold. Town tightened restrictions additional in February as new instances raged, however began easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed on account of a surge in Covid circumstances within the Asian financial hub.

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

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

At the press conference, Lee was also asked how he will present the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Yes, we now have challenges now due to the need to control Covid-19 and some of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear level that I am 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."

He stated he shall be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the conditions that will be required for normal travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally known as on residents to comply with the advice and measures of the government, and stated the town will search to spice up its vaccination charge. In line with government statistics, more 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 extend my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she said in a press launch. "The present-term government and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We will render all the support wanted for the assumption of office by the new term of presidency."

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