Hong Kong’s subsequent Chief Government will 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 next 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 top put up, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee solid their votes to select the brand new leader. Lee only wanted a simple majority to win.

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

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

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

At a press conference after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency will be "challenged by the dearth 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 response to the law is qualified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Pointing out that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of help, after all, it encourages me and offers me the sturdy confidence that my path is agreed and shared by numerous election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

"The selection of Lee, a career police officer who performed a leading position within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's prime priority for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety reasonably than preserving its position as a dynamic global hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and enterprise middle to taking part in a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly equipped to reply to a serious shock."

In step with 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 city tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, but began easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a very clear point that I'm very acutely aware of the must be accessible to the world. And also 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 executive

On the press conference, Lee was also requested how he'll show the international neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

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

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

Lee also referred to as on residents to comply with the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and said the city will search to spice up its vaccination fee. According to government statistics, more than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have acquired their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have received their second dose.

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

"I lengthen my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she said in a press launch. "The present-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We are going to render all the support wanted for the belief of office by the new term of presidency."

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