Hong Kong’s subsequent Chief Executive shall be Beijing loyalist John Lee

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's prime post, received 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 only 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 Govt Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative area of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is governed underneath the "one country, two systems" framework, and has limited election rights and a mostly separate authorized and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a significant overhaul last year after Beijing said that solely so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to manipulate the city.

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

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

"Anybody, who in accordance with the legislation is qualified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Stating that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of help, after all, it encourages me and provides me the strong confidence that my path is agreed and shared by plenty of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

"The choice of Lee, a career police officer who performed a leading function within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's high precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political security somewhat than preserving its function as a dynamic world hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and business middle to taking part in a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "Whereas the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly geared up to reply to a serious 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 and blunt its spread. The city tightened restrictions additional in February as new circumstances raged, but began easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a very clear point that I am very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And likewise 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 executive

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

"Yes, we now have challenges now due to the necessity to management Covid-19 and among the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear point that I am very aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland."

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

Lee also referred to as on citizens to observe the advice and measures of the federal government, and said town will seek to boost its vaccination rate. In line with authorities statistics, more than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have acquired their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have received their second dose.

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

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

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