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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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 submit, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee forged their votes to select the new leader. Lee only needed a simple majority to win.

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

Hong Kong is a particular administrative region of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It's governed below the "one nation, two systems" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a serious overhaul final year after Beijing said 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 efficiency will probably 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."

"Anyone, 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 stated: "With that number of support, after all, it encourages me and gives me the robust confidence that my route is agreed and shared by numerous election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

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

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

According to 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 city tightened restrictions additional in February as new instances raged, but started easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a very clear level that I'm very conscious of the need to be accessible to the world. And in addition 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 government

On the press conference, Lee was additionally requested how he'll show the international community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Yes, we now have challenges now because of the need to management Covid-19 and among the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

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

He mentioned he will likely be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out out what are the situations that might 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 said town will seek to spice up its vaccination price. Based on authorities statistics, more 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 executive Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I lengthen my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she said in a press release. "The current-term government and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We'll render all the support needed for the belief of workplace 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 version of the story misrepresented that figure.