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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's prime submit, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

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

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

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's ruled under the "one nation, two methods" framework, and has limited election rights and a mostly separate authorized and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a serious overhaul last year after Beijing stated that solely so-called "patriots" should be allowed to control the city.

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

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

"Anyone, who in response to the law is qualified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that variety of assist, in fact, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy 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 the town's subsequent chief government.

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

"The selection of Lee, a career police officer who played a leading function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's high priority for Hong Kong is maintaining political security rather than preserving its role as a dynamic international hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide financial and business heart to taking part in a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the dangers to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly equipped to respond to a serious 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 try and blunt its spread. The city tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, however started easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a really clear point that I am very aware of the must be accessible to the world. And likewise it is an important factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

At the press conference, Lee was additionally asked how he will show the worldwide group that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

"I make it a really clear level that I'm very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland."

He stated he will be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the circumstances that can be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally known as on citizens to comply with the advice and measures of the government, and stated the city will search to spice up its vaccination price. According to authorities 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 executive Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I prolong my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press launch. "The current-term authorities and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We are going to render all of the help wanted for the belief of office by the brand new time period of government."

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