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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's high post, received 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to pick the brand new leader. Lee solely wanted 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 Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative region 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 restricted election rights and a principally separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a significant overhaul final yr after Beijing stated that solely so-called "patriots" must be allowed to manipulate the town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency 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 response to the legislation 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 help, in fact, it encourages me and provides me the robust confidence that my course is agreed and shared by quite a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

"The selection of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a number one role in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, signifies that Beijing's prime precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety slightly than preserving its function as a dynamic global hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and enterprise heart to taking part in a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also 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" technique for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an try to blunt its spread. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new instances raged, but started easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a really clear point that I am very acutely aware of the need 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.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

On the press conference, Lee was also requested how he will present the international community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Yes, now we have challenges now due to the need to control Covid-19 and some of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear point that I am very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland."

He stated he will probably be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out out what are the circumstances that shall be required for normal travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally called on citizens to observe the advice and measures of the federal government, and stated the town will seek to spice up its vaccination charge. In accordance with authorities statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have acquired their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have acquired their second dose.

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

"I extend my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she mentioned in a press release. "The present-term government and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We'll render all the help wanted for the assumption of workplace by the brand new term of presidency."

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