Hong Kong’s next Chief Executive will likely 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 govt.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's prime post, 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 brand new chief. Lee solely needed a simple majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was formerly Hong Kong's chief secretary, will start his five-year time period on July 1, replacing 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.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It's ruled underneath the "one country, two systems" framework, and has limited election rights and a mostly separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a significant overhaul final 12 months after Beijing said that only so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to control the town.

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

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

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

Declaring that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of help, after all, it encourages me and provides me the strong confidence that my course is agreed and shared by numerous election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

In a note final week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's choice of Lee as the subsequent Hong Kong leader.

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial 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 geared up to reply to a serious 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 try to blunt its unfold. The town tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, but started easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed due to a surge in Covid circumstances within the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a really clear point that I'm very aware of the must be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

On the press conference, Lee was additionally asked how he'll show the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Yes, we now have challenges now because of the need to control Covid-19 and a number of the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear point that I am very acutely aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland."

He stated he can be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the conditions that shall be required for regular travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally called on residents to follow the recommendation and measures of the government, and stated the city will search to boost its vaccination charge. In response to authorities statistics, more than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have obtained their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have acquired their second dose.

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

"I lengthen my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she said in a press launch. "The current-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We'll render all of the help needed for the belief of office by the brand new time period of government."

Correction: This story has been updated to mirror that John Lee gained 1,416 votes in Hong Kong's chief executive election. An earlier model of the story misrepresented that determine.