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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the only candidate for Hong Kong's prime put up, 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 subsequent chief executive.

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top post, won 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 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 start his five-year term on July 1, replacing outgoing Chief Government 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 former colony to Beijing. It's ruled below the "one nation, two systems" framework, and has restricted election rights and a principally separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a significant overhaul last year after Beijing stated that solely so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to manipulate town.

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

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

"Anyone, who in line with the regulation is certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Stating that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that number of support, after all, it encourages me and offers me the robust confidence that my course is agreed and shared by a variety of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

"The choice of Lee, a profession police officer who played a number one position in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety somewhat than preserving its role as a dynamic global hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and business center to taking part in a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "Whereas the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly equipped to reply to a major shock."

In step 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 attempt to blunt its unfold. The city tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, but started easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a really clear point that I am very conscious of the need to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

On the press convention, Lee was also requested how he will show the international neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Yes, we've challenges now because of the necessity to management Covid-19 and a few of the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

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

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

Lee additionally called on citizens to observe the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and said the city will search to spice up its vaccination fee. According to authorities 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 obtained their second dose.

Hong Kong's outgoing chief government Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I extend my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press launch. "The current-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We are going to render all of the support needed for the belief of office by the new term of presidency."

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