Hong Kong’s subsequent Chief Government can be Beijing loyalist John Lee

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the one candidate for Hong Kong's prime submit, 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 government.

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's high 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 new chief. Lee only needed a easy majority to win.

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

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It's governed beneath the "one nation, two methods" framework, and has restricted election rights and a mostly separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went through a serious overhaul last yr after Beijing stated that only so-called "patriots" must be allowed to govern town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his performance will be "challenged by the shortage 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 according to the legislation is certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Mentioning that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of help, of course, it encourages me and gives me the strong confidence that my path is agreed and shared by numerous election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global monetary and enterprise middle to taking part in a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "Whereas the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly geared up to reply to a significant shock."

Consistent with 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 and blunt its unfold. The city tightened restrictions additional in February as new circumstances raged, but started easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a very clear level that I am very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

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

"Yes, we have now 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 level that I am very conscious of the have to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland."

He said he shall be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out out what are the circumstances that shall be required for normal travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally called on residents to observe the advice and measures of the government, and mentioned the city will search to boost its vaccination price. In accordance with authorities statistics, greater than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have received their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have acquired their second dose.

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

"I prolong my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press release. "The present-term government and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We are going to render all of the assist wanted for the belief of office by the brand new time period of government."

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