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

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

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 prime publish, received 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee forged their votes to pick out the new chief. Lee solely wanted a easy 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, replacing 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.Okay. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It is ruled below the "one nation, two methods" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate authorized and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a major overhaul last year after Beijing said that only so-called "patriots" must be allowed to govern the city.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was requested if his performance will probably be "challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some people."

His reply was that his election was "run in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong."

"Anyone, who in line with the regulation is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that variety of assist, in fact, it encourages me and provides me the robust confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by plenty of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The number of Lee, a career police officer who played a number one function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety quite than preserving its position as a dynamic international hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and enterprise middle to enjoying a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "Whereas the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly outfitted to respond to a significant 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 and blunt its unfold. Town tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, however began easing barely in late April.

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

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

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

On the press conference, Lee was additionally asked how he will present the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Yes, we've got challenges now due to the necessity to management Covid-19 and a few of the measures are certainly 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 likewise it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular travel with the mainland."

He said he can be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the conditions 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 government, and stated the town will seek to spice up its vaccination price. Based on authorities statistics, more than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have obtained their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have obtained their second dose.

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

"I lengthen my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she stated in a press release. "The current-term government and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We will render all the support needed for the belief of office by the brand 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 version of the story misrepresented that determine.