Hong Kong’s subsequent Chief Government will likely 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 govt.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's high publish, won 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 formerly Hong Kong's chief secretary, will begin his five-year term on July 1, changing outgoing Chief Government 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 former colony to Beijing. It's ruled beneath the "one nation, two techniques" framework, and has restricted election rights and a mostly separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a major overhaul final year after Beijing mentioned that solely so-called "patriots" must be allowed to control the city.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his performance will likely 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."

"Anybody, who in keeping with the law is certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of assist, of course, it encourages me and offers me the sturdy confidence that my course is agreed and shared by plenty of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The number of Lee, a career police officer who performed a number one position within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's high priority for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety moderately than preserving its function as a dynamic world hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide financial and business heart to enjoying a narrower position 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 major shock."

In keeping 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 spread. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, but began easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed as a consequence of a surge in Covid instances within the Asian financial hub.

I make it a very clear point that I am very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And also it is an important factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

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

"Yes, we've got challenges now because of the need to control Covid-19 and a few of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear level that I'm very aware of the should be accessible to the world. And also it is a crucial factor 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 find out what are the circumstances that will probably be required for normal travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also known as on citizens to comply with the advice and measures of the federal government, and said the city will seek to boost its vaccination price. In accordance 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 prolong my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she stated in a press launch. "The present-term authorities and I'll ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We will render all of the help needed for the idea of office by the new term of government."

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