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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the one candidate for Hong Kong's high post, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent chief government.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

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

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to pick the new leader. Lee only needed a simple majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was previously Hong Kong's chief secretary, will start his five-year term on July 1, changing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is ruled beneath the "one country, two techniques" framework, and has restricted election rights and a mostly separate authorized and financial system.

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

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his performance can be "challenged by the shortage of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some folks."

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

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

Stating that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that number of assist, after all, it encourages me and offers me the robust confidence that my path is agreed and shared by a whole lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

"The choice of Lee, a career police officer who played a number one role in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's prime precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety relatively than preserving its role as a dynamic international hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global monetary and business center to playing a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the dangers to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly geared up to reply to a serious shock."

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

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

I make it a really clear point that I'm very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

On the press conference, Lee was also asked how he will show the worldwide community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Yes, we've challenges now due to the need to control Covid-19 and among the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear level that I'm very aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland."

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

Lee also called on citizens to observe the advice and measures of the government, and said the town will seek to boost its vaccination rate. According to government statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants 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 executive Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I extend my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she said in a press launch. "The current-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 idea of workplace by the new term of presidency."

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 model of the story misrepresented that determine.