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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top submit, 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 new leader. Lee solely wanted 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 Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It is ruled below the "one nation, two methods" framework, and has restricted election rights and a principally separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went through a major overhaul final year after Beijing stated that solely so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to govern the city.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his efficiency can 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."

"Anybody, who according 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 stated: "With that number of support, after all, it encourages me and gives me the sturdy confidence that my route is agreed and shared by a variety of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

"The number of Lee, a career police officer who performed a number one role within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's high precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political security quite than preserving its function as a dynamic global hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and enterprise middle to taking part in a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly outfitted 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 unfold. The town tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, but started easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed on account of a surge in Covid circumstances in the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a very clear level that I'm very aware of the should be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

On the press convention, Lee was additionally asked how he will show the international community that Hong Kong is open for business.

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

"I make it a very clear point that I am very acutely aware of the must be accessible to the world. And also it is an important factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland."

He mentioned he will likely be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the circumstances that can be required for normal travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally known as on residents to observe the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and said town will search to boost its vaccination fee. Based on government statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have received their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have obtained 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 profitable election," she said in a press launch. "The current-term government and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We are going to 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 replicate that John Lee received 1,416 votes in Hong Kong's chief executive election. An earlier version of the story misrepresented that determine.