Hong Kong’s next Chief Executive can be Beijing loyalist John Lee

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the one candidate for Hong Kong's high post, 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 next chief govt.

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top post, 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 chief. Lee solely wanted a simple 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, replacing 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 previous colony to Beijing. It is ruled below the "one country, two programs" framework, and has limited election rights and a largely separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went via a significant overhaul last year after Beijing stated that only so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to manipulate the town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was requested if his performance will likely be "challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some individuals."

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

"Anyone, who according to the regulation is qualified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Mentioning that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that variety of help, after all, it encourages me and offers me the strong confidence that my route is agreed and shared by loads of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

"The collection of Lee, a career police officer who played a leading position within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's high priority for Hong Kong is maintaining political security fairly than preserving its function as a dynamic world 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 function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "While the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly outfitted to respond to a major 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 try to blunt its spread. Town tightened restrictions additional in February as new instances raged, however started easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed attributable to a surge in Covid instances within the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a very clear level that I'm very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And also it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

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

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

"I make it a really clear point that I'm very conscious of the must 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."

He said he can be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the conditions that shall be required for regular travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also referred to as on citizens to comply with the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and mentioned the city will seek to spice up its vaccination fee. In keeping 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 obtained their second dose.

Hong Kong's outgoing chief executive 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'll render all of the assist needed for the belief of workplace by the brand new time period of government."

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