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

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the only candidate for Hong Kong's top publish, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent chief executive.

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, received 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee forged their votes to select the new leader. Lee solely wanted a easy 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, replacing outgoing Chief Government Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is governed underneath the "one nation, two systems" framework, and has restricted election rights and a principally separate authorized and financial system.

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

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his performance can 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 laws of Hong Kong."

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

Declaring that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of help, of course, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my route is agreed and shared by a variety of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

"The selection of Lee, a profession police officer who played a number one function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's prime precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political security relatively than preserving its position as a dynamic global hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide monetary and business heart to playing a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "Whereas the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly equipped to answer a major 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 attempt to blunt its unfold. Town tightened restrictions further 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 circumstances in the Asian financial hub.

I make it a very clear level that I'm very aware of the should be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

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

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

"I make it a very clear point that I am very acutely aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland."

He said he might be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the circumstances that will be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also known as on residents to follow the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and mentioned the town will seek to spice up its vaccination fee. In response to government statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have obtained their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have received their second dose.

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

"I lengthen my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she mentioned in a press release. "The present-term government and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We are going to render all of the assist needed for the assumption 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 govt election. An earlier version of the story misrepresented that determine.