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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's high put up, received 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to pick out the brand new leader. Lee only needed a easy 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 particular administrative region of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It is governed underneath the "one nation, two programs" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by way of a major overhaul final year after Beijing said that solely so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to govern the town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency will probably be "challenged by the shortage of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some individuals."

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

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

Mentioning that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that variety of support, in fact, it encourages me and gives me the strong confidence that my course is agreed and shared by lots of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The selection of Lee, a profession police officer who played a number one role in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's high priority for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety slightly than preserving its function as a dynamic global hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global financial and business heart to taking part in a narrower role 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 equipped to answer a significant shock."

In line with China's Covid-19 policy, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" strategy for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an attempt to blunt its spread. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, but began easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a very clear point that I'm very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press convention, Lee was additionally asked how he will present the worldwide group that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Yes, now we have challenges now due to the necessity to control Covid-19 and a few of the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear level that I am very conscious of the must be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland."

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

Lee also called on citizens to observe the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and mentioned town will search to spice up its vaccination rate. In response to government statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have acquired their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have obtained their second dose.

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

"I prolong my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she mentioned in a press launch. "The present-term authorities and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We will render all of the assist wanted for the assumption of workplace by the new term of presidency."

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