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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the one candidate for Hong Kong's high publish, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent 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 high put up, received 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 chief. Lee only needed a easy 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 special 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 below the "one nation, two programs" framework, and has restricted election rights and a principally separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by way of a significant overhaul last year after Beijing said that solely so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to govern the city.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was asked if his performance will probably 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 laws of Hong Kong."

"Anybody, who according to the law is qualified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Pointing out that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that variety of assist, of course, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my path is agreed and shared by loads of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

"The choice of Lee, a career police officer who played a number one function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's high precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political security reasonably than preserving its role as a dynamic global hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global monetary and enterprise center to playing a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "Whereas the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly equipped to reply to a major shock."

In keeping with China's Covid-19 policy, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" technique for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an try to blunt its spread. Town tightened restrictions additional in February as new instances raged, but started easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed resulting from a surge in Covid circumstances in the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a very clear level that I'm very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And also it is an important thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

On the press convention, Lee was also requested how he'll show the international group that Hong Kong is open for business.

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

"I make it a very clear level that I'm very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular travel with the mainland."

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

Lee also called on residents to comply with the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and mentioned town will seek to boost its vaccination rate. In keeping with authorities 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 obtained their second dose.

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

"I lengthen my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she stated in a press release. "The present-term authorities and I'll ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We will render all of the support wanted for the idea of workplace by the new time period 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 model of the story misrepresented that figure.