Hong Kong’s next Chief Government might be Beijing loyalist John Lee

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the only candidate for Hong Kong's prime 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 executive.

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top put up, gained 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 needed a simple majority to win.

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

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

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a major overhaul last 12 months after Beijing mentioned that only so-called "patriots" should be allowed to govern town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency might be "challenged by the shortage of electoral mandate and legitimacy within 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 accordance with the law is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Pointing out that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that number of help, of course, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my route is agreed and shared by numerous election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

In a observe last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's alternative of Lee as the following Hong Kong chief.

"The collection of Lee, a career police officer who performed a number one function within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's prime precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety quite than preserving its position as a dynamic world hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global monetary and enterprise middle to playing a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "While the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly geared up to reply to a significant shock."

Consistent with China's Covid-19 policy, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" strategy for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an attempt to blunt its spread. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, however began easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed due to a surge in Covid cases in the Asian financial hub.

I make it a really clear point that I'm very acutely aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

On the press convention, Lee was also asked how he'll show the international group that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

"I make it a really clear point that I am very conscious of the need to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal journey with the mainland."

He said he shall be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out 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 advice and measures of the government, and mentioned the town will search to spice up its vaccination price. In keeping with government statistics, more than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have received 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 prolong my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press release. "The current-term government and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We will render all the assist wanted for the belief of office by the new time period of government."

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