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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the one candidate for Hong Kong's top put up, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent chief govt.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top put up, received 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 chief. Lee only needed a easy majority to win.

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

Hong Kong is a particular 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 nation, two techniques" framework, and has restricted election rights and a largely separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a major overhaul final 12 months after Beijing mentioned that only so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to control town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency will likely be "challenged by the dearth of electoral mandate and legitimacy in 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 response to the legislation 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 number of assist, after all, it encourages me and gives me the strong confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by loads of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The number of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a leading function within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's prime precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety moderately than preserving its function as a dynamic global hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global financial and business center 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 could also be poorly outfitted to respond to a significant 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. Town tightened restrictions additional in February as new circumstances raged, however began easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a really clear level that I am very conscious of the have to be accessible to the world. And also it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press conference, Lee was additionally asked how he'll show the worldwide group that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Sure, now we have challenges now because of the necessity to management Covid-19 and some of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear point that I am very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And likewise it is an important thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland."

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

Lee additionally referred to as on residents to comply with the recommendation and measures of the government, and said the city will seek to spice up its vaccination rate. In accordance with government statistics, greater 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 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 ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We'll render all the assist needed for the belief of workplace by the brand new time period of presidency."

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