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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's prime submit, 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 brand new chief. Lee solely needed 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 special administrative region of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It is ruled underneath the "one country, two techniques" framework, and has limited election rights and a principally separate authorized and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by way of a serious overhaul final 12 months after Beijing said that only so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to govern town.

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

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

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

Stating that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that variety of help, after all, it encourages me and gives me the strong confidence that my course is agreed and shared by quite a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

In a note final week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's selection of Lee as the following Hong Kong leader.

"The number of Lee, a career police officer who played a number one role in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's top priority for Hong Kong is maintaining political security rather than preserving its position as a dynamic international hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global financial and business center to enjoying a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also 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 try to blunt its spread. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, but began easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a very clear level that I'm very conscious 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 govt

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

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

"I make it a very clear level that I am very aware of the must be accessible to the world. And likewise it is an important factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland."

He mentioned he can be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the situations that will likely be required for normal travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally called on citizens to observe the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and said town will search to boost its vaccination charge. Based on government statistics, more than 91% of the population 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 executive Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I prolong my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she said in a press launch. "The current-term government and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We'll render all the support needed for the idea of workplace by the brand new time period of presidency."

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