Hong Kong’s next Chief Govt can be Beijing loyalist John Lee

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the one candidate for Hong Kong's high publish, 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 government.

Lee, the only 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 cast their votes to select the brand new chief. Lee only 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, changing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It is governed underneath the "one country, two programs" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a serious overhaul last 12 months after Beijing stated that only so-called "patriots" must be allowed to control the city.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his performance will likely be "challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy within 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 accordance with the regulation is certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that variety of assist, of course, it encourages me and offers me the strong confidence that my path is agreed and shared by a variety of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

In a notice final week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's selection of Lee as the subsequent Hong Kong chief.

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and business center to enjoying a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "Whereas the dangers to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly outfitted to answer a major shock."

According to 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 unfold. Town tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, but started easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a very clear level that I am very aware of the must be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press conference, Lee was also asked how he'll show the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

"I make it a very clear point that I'm very aware of the need to 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."

He mentioned he can be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out out what are the situations that can be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also called on citizens to comply with the advice and measures of the federal government, and mentioned the town will search to boost its vaccination charge. In accordance 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 acquired their second dose.

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

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

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