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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top put up, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee solid their votes to pick out the new chief. Lee only wanted a simple majority to win.

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

Hong Kong is a particular administrative area of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It's governed beneath the "one nation, two programs" framework, and has limited election rights and a largely separate authorized and economic system.

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

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

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

"Anybody, who based on the regulation is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Stating that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that number of help, after all, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my course is agreed and shared by loads of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The choice of Lee, a profession police officer who played a leading function within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, signifies that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political security relatively than preserving its role as a dynamic international hub," they said.

"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 stated. "Whereas the dangers to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly outfitted to answer a major shock."

In keeping 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 try to blunt its unfold. The city tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, but began easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a very clear point that I am very aware of the must be accessible to the world. And also it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

At the press conference, Lee was also requested how he'll present the international community that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Sure, we have now challenges now due to the need to management Covid-19 and a number of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear point that I'm very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland."

He mentioned he can be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the circumstances that can be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also called on citizens to follow the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and stated town will search to boost its vaccination rate. Based on 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 executive Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I lengthen my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she mentioned in a press release. "The present-term government and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We will render all the help wanted for the belief of office by the brand new term of presidency."

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