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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's top submit, won 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee forged their votes to pick the new leader. Lee solely 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 Govt 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 is governed beneath the "one country, two techniques" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate authorized and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a serious overhaul final yr after Beijing said that only so-called "patriots" must be allowed to control the city.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency will probably be "challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some people."

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

"Anyone, who according to 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 variety of assist, after all, it encourages me and offers me the strong confidence that my path is agreed and shared by a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

In a word final week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's choice of Lee as the following Hong Kong chief.

"The choice of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a leading position within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, signifies that Beijing's prime precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political security rather than preserving its role as a dynamic global hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and enterprise center to playing a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "Whereas the dangers to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly equipped to respond to a significant shock."

According to 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 attempt to blunt its unfold. The city tightened restrictions additional in February as new circumstances raged, but began easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed resulting from a surge in Covid cases in the Asian financial hub.

I make it a really clear level that I am 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.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press convention, Lee was additionally asked how he will present the worldwide neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

"I make it a really clear level that I am very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland."

He mentioned he will probably be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the conditions that will be required for normal travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally called on citizens to observe the recommendation and measures of the government, and stated the city will seek to boost its vaccination rate. In accordance with government statistics, more 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 govt Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I extend my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she stated in a press release. "The current-term authorities and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We are going to render all the assist needed for the idea of office by the new term of presidency."

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