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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's top put up, won 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee solid their votes to pick out the new leader. 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 term on July 1, changing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative area of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is ruled below the "one nation, two methods" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by way of a significant overhaul final 12 months after Beijing said that only so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to govern the 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 within the eyes of some people."

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

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

Declaring that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that variety of help, after all, it encourages me and offers me the sturdy confidence that my path is agreed and shared by quite a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

"The selection of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a number one position within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, signifies that Beijing's top priority for Hong Kong is maintaining political security relatively than preserving its position as a dynamic global hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global monetary and enterprise middle to taking part in a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly outfitted to reply to a serious shock."

Consistent 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. Town tightened restrictions additional in February as new cases raged, but started easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a really clear level that I'm very acutely aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And likewise 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 government

On the press convention, Lee was also asked how he'll present the worldwide group that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Yes, 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 point that I am very aware of the should be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal journey with the mainland."

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

Lee also known as on citizens to follow the recommendation and measures of the government, and stated the town will search to spice up its vaccination price. In line with authorities 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 acquired their second dose.

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

"I extend my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she mentioned in a press launch. "The current-term government and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We will render all the help wanted for the assumption of office by the brand new time period of government."

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