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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top post, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

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

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

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

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a serious overhaul last yr after Beijing mentioned that only so-called "patriots" should be allowed to control town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was asked if his performance will likely 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."

"Anybody, who based on the law is qualified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that number of assist, after all, it encourages me and offers 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 town's next chief executive.

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

"The choice of Lee, a profession police officer who played a leading position within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's prime priority for Hong Kong is sustaining political security somewhat than preserving its function as a dynamic global hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and business middle to playing a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "Whereas the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly equipped to reply to a major shock."

According to China's Covid-19 coverage, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" strategy for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an try to blunt its spread. Town tightened restrictions additional in February as new instances raged, but started easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a really clear point that I'm very aware of the must be accessible to the world. And also it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press convention, Lee was additionally requested how he will show the worldwide group that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

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

"I make it a very clear level that I'm very aware of the must be accessible to the world. And also it is an important thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland."

He said he will be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out out what are the conditions that might be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally referred to as on citizens to comply with the recommendation and measures of the government, and said the town will search to spice up its vaccination fee. Based on government statistics, more than 91% of the population 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 government Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I extend my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she mentioned in a press release. "The current-term authorities and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We are going to render all of the assist needed for the idea of workplace by the brand new term of presidency."

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